Probably only the most avid of winter sports fans are happy that summer is over and winter has unofficially arrived rather unceremoniously on Remembrance Day when enough snow fell that we could only face the cold hard facts. For most of us, letting go of summer is at least a little hard to do. Fall’s bright colours soften the blow a little as we reluctantly pack up our summer clothes and boats.
Autumn is a time of transition between two very different situations but also a season in its own right. We could call fall nature’s consolation prize or perhaps a chance to prepare for winter. Our situations are changing whether we want them to or not. Learning how to flow with the seasons of life instead of wasting energy resisting change can help us flow through life more smoothly.
When my dad had to bring calves into the barn because of bad weather or health reasons they were always resistant to the change of location. They didn’t know he was moving them in an attempt to keep them safe and well. Dad would have to either carry the calves or push them, step by leg-locked step, into a place of safety.
We have a tendency to resist change, too. Change can be challenging for us. Even chosen change creates symptoms of stress in humans as our brains adapt to familiar situations. Unwanted changes are, of course, far more difficult for us to cope with, especially if they involve something as serious as an unexpected death or illness.
Change is strange. There are seasons in life when we feel overwhelmed by what feels like too many changes happening too quickly for our liking. At other times we may feel stuck in situations, longing for something to change but feeling powerless in our struggles to change things that trouble or frustrate us.
There are some things in life we simply can’t change like the weather, our age and other people’s minds.
Coping with unwanted changes and creating desired changes are both important life management skills.
Nothing changes if nothing changes is a simple but powerful truth. Since we have tendencies toward sticking with or falling back into what we’re most used to, we are generally most successful at creating and sustaining change in small steps. We need to give our brains and bodies time to adjust to a new and improved normal. It takes at least 21 days to form a new habit so be patient with yourself.
If you’d like to create a change in your life, it’s best to make a simple sustainable plan and refuse to abandon it even if you’ve made a mistake or two or even twenty.
This is a perfect season for a good change!
Be Your Own Life Coach
While it can be helpful to see yourself through someone else’s eyes or get a different perspective on a situation you may feel stuck in, we’re always our own best life coach.
We alone know exactly what’s going on inside of us, where lasting change begins.
Questions to Think About:
Is there something I would like to change about myself?
What’s one thing I could do to bring myself one step closer to that change?
