Navigating Change: Seasons, Transitions, and the Shifts of Life
Change is one of life’s constants. Some changes arrive with joy, new opportunities, fresh starts, or an unexpected adventure. Others come with loss, uncertainty, or a letting go of what once was. And often, change carries a little of both.
Nature gives us a beautiful model for how to move through transitions. Summer teaches us to savor fullness, autumn invites us to release, winter guides us inward for rest, and spring reminds us that new life always follows.
Take a moment now: Which season feels most like your life today? Are you in a summer of expansion, an autumn of letting go, a winter of rest, or a spring of renewal? It may match the season outside your window. Or it may be the opposite. Remember, you have your own rhythm, and it deserves to be honored.
Sometimes I want to push forward with ideas or relationships, and life reminds me through missed connections, delays, or even being stuck in traffic that it’s not the right time.
How about you? What do you do in those moments?
When I catch myself, I try to surrender to the natural rhythm instead of forcing my way through. My body has learned to tell the difference.
Pausing to Listen Within
During transitions in my own life, I’ve noticed how easy it is to get caught in the swirl of “what ifs” and “shoulds.” One memory that stands out is when I faced a major shift in my career. The advice and opinions around me were loud, but my inner voice was a whisper. Only when I slowed down with quiet walks and long swims, could I hear what I truly needed. The biggest shift came when I moved from the advertising and public relations world into becoming a therapist. I’m deeply grateful I listened.
Consider this: When you are in change, where do you go to find your inner voice? Is it in nature, stillness, journaling, or simply pausing for a breath?
Letting Go of What No Longer Serve
Like autumn leaves falling, we sometimes need to release roles, beliefs, or patterns we’ve carried for too long. I remember cleaning out an old office and finding boxes of projects I once poured myself into. Letting them go felt like releasing parts of an old identity. It also created space for a new chapter to begin. Yet, there were a few gems I saved, and over the years I’ve seen how they weave into the new. I’m grateful my intuition knew the difference.
What is one thing you sense it may be time to release? It might be a habit, a belief, or even an outdated dream.
There’s a powerful Feng Shui-inspired decluttering exercise: Remove 27 items from your home or office each day for nine consecutive days. If you miss a day, you start over. It’s surprisingly freeing.
Releasing can also mean noticing patterns in relationships or habits. I remember one dynamic where I would say something, the other person would respond in a way that upset me, and then I would defend myself, which only escalated things further. One day, I caught the pattern. Instead of repeating the “dance,” I chose not to step into it. Until that moment, I felt like the victim. Realizing I could break the cycle was freeing and empowering.
Staying Connected
Transitions can feel lonely if we carry them silently. I’ve leaned on friends, colleagues, and mentors who reminded me I wasn’t navigating change alone. Sometimes their presence mattered more than their advice. This was especially true during seasons of grief, divorce, and my struggles to conceive.
And if it feels hard to think of someone right now, consider expanding into supportive groups of like-minded people. It can be uncomfortable at first, but also surprisingly uplifting. I remember spending time with a new group that was extremely positive. At first, I caught myself judging it, but then I realized my old patterns weren’t serving me. Mixing it up gave me fresh energy and, over time, felt freeing in ways I didn’t expect.
Who are your people? The ones who see you, encourage you, or simply sit with you. If someone comes to mind, maybe this is the moment to reach out.
Choosing Curiosity Over Fear
Fear often kept me clinging to what was familiar, even when it no longer fit. Curiosity has a way of loosening that grip. When I asked, “What’s possible here?” instead of “What could go wrong?” I discovered options I never imagined.
Try asking yourself: If fear wasn’t in the driver’s seat, what might you be curious to explore?
If fear is driving, consider putting it in the backseat with a seatbelt on.
The Doorway of Change
It’s easy to see change as a disruption. But I’ve come to believe that change is a doorway. Each threshold asks us to step into more of who we are becoming. When we walk through with presence, courage, and a willingness to be surprised, we discover a deeper connection to ourselves, and often, to life itself.
Guided Meditation: Meeting Change with Curiosity
If you’d like to explore this more deeply, here’s a short practice you can try as you watch the video:
- Pause and Breathe – Close your eyes, take a few slow breaths, and let your body soften.
- Notice Your Season – Imagine a season that reflects your life right now: spring, summer, autumn, or winter.
- Listen Within – Ask gently: What is stirring in me? What needs attention?
- Release – Picture letting go of something that no longer serves you, like leaves drifting from a tree.
- Feel Support – Imagine yourself surrounded by people, mentors, or ancestors who support you.
- Open to Possibility – Place a hand on your heart and ask: What’s possible here?
Take a moment to carry one insight or feeling from this practice into the rest of your day.
