Seasons of Change
We’ve all heard the phrase “the only constant is change.” As someone incredibly resistant to change myself, I resent this phrase. Ironically, as a mental health professional, I’m committed to the process of change both in myself and facilitating it for others. Change is challenging. It comes with a myriad of emotions from anger, sadness, fear, grief, and good old fashioned general discomfort. Many people are hesitant to embrace change on personal, community, and global levels. So much energy is put into keeping the status quo and preventing change, one big example is that of the physical changes that come with aging. What if we gave ourselves grace during times of change? What if we could use the lessons from nature to help us embrace seasons of change, pun intended?
Nothing in nature stays the same forever, even evergreen trees have seasons of growth and seasons of simply being. Some seasons of your life will be like spring, building energy, excitement, and visible signs of growth, planting seeds for your goals and dreams. Seasons of summer, bursting with growth and development, meeting those goals you planted seeds for and nourished in the spring. Seasons of fall, shedding the old and preparing for stillness. Finally seasons of winter, where growth is stalled, loss is experienced, and existence just is. The expectation that you will be the same all the time can cause distress and shame. The transition between these seasons can be challenging, bringing both excitement and anxiety. Remembering that you will forever be experiencing changing seasons can give yourself room to be as you are, moving through life. Nature doesn’t think it will never grow again during the winter, it trusts in the cyclical essence of the world and does not rush. Forever summers may sound lovely, however wouldn’t give nature time to rest, shed what no longer serves it, and ultimately make room to grow even bigger and healthier. Remember, you are nature and taking time to learn from the wisdom around you can be powerful.
Questions to ponder:
What season am I currently in?
What do I need in each season? During seasons of preparation, growth, shedding, and stillness?
How can I be flexible and patient with myself during these changing seasons?
