How to embrace change with ease instead of anxiety
Lessons from the Seasons 🌦️🍂❄️🌸☀️
I freakin’ love this time of year…
Maybe it’s because I grew up in the tropics, but there’s something about getting my coat and boots out and seeing the leaves change.
And, while I don’t love the darkness, I do love getting snuggled-up, warm indoors and the twinkly lights that come on as we head into the Christmas season.
Maybe I’m feeling nostalgic as it’ll be my last winter for a while, as I relocate back to Thailand next year…
Changes, particularly big changes like moving house, country, changing a job, suffering a loss or illness, creates uncertainty, and anxiety rises out of uncertainty. Our brains crave certainty, so even the best and most exciting changes can lead to anxiety.
Because our fears about the change will often be subconscious they manifest in unhelpful ways such as sleeplessness, eczema, tension etc, even when it’s something you want and have chosen!
So I want to share with you a tool I use to process and lean into it to make it easier.
Nature shows us that change is just a process, a natural cycle. If we can accept this, and allow the process to happen, taking time surface our subconscious fears, it can be a whole lot lot easier.
Just as the seasons change, so do our lives.
Every flip of the kitchen calendar page offers fresh opportunities for growth and learning. So today I’m delving into how the seasons can inspire us to embrace change and nurture growth with greater grace and ease.
Try these journal prompts and see what comes up for you. Download my free beautiful workbook here.
🍂 Autumn - Embrace Change
Just as a tree prepares for winter by shedding leaves, we can prepare for growth by shedding the unnecessary and creating more space.
Take time to notice what is falling away for you. What once seemed important that no longer serves you? What no longer interests you in the way it once did?
Can you acknowledge that, shed it, let people know you'll be making some changes?
❄️ Winter - Let it go & trust the process
Winter may seem barren, but it can help us to consciously let go of old habits, ideas, behaviours, partnerships or projects that have run their course. What might these be for you? Can you really let these go now?
Do allow yourself to grieve these things, as even though they’ve run their course, they may have been an important part of your life and identity.
It's also season of rest and preparation. Can you use this time to rest, and cultivate resilience and patience?
Know that your projects face challenges, even in the coldest, darkest times, growth is happening beneath the surface. Can you let go of control and trust the process?
🌸 Spring - Nurture New Beginnings
In spring, the natural world revives and reinvigorates. Dormant plants begin to grow again, new seedlings sprout out of the ground and hibernating animals awake.
It's a time for new beginnings, trying again, and fresh ideas. Notice which projects or ideas are coming to the surface for you. What do you need to protect and nourish so that it can grow?
☀️ Summer - Bask in the sunshine!
Summer is when the hard work pays off. Like a bountiful harvest, this is the season to reap the rewards of your efforts.
Notice what aspects of your life, projects or relationships are enjoying the sunshine of success. How can you lean in more to those areas? What do you need to celebrate?
The seasons remind us that growth is a cycle, and each phase is equally important. Different aspects of our lives can be going through different seasons at the same time.
When we allow that to happen, we give our energy and focus to the places that need it most.
Take a moment to reflect on where you are in your own cycles and how we can apply the wisdom of the seasons to our projects and behaviours. If you’d like to try this, you can download the free workbook here.
So, here’s my invitation to find inspiration in the ever-changing world around us. There's a lesson to be learned from every season.