08 September 2017. As the seasons turn, we notice the sun slipping away earlier while being aware that the ease of summer is coming to an end. It's a reminder that changes are afoot. Some changes force us out of routines and patterns that we cling to for dear life. That feeling of losing a deeply rooted routine can be terrifying, devastating, liberating, or all three. You can find yourself tearfully mourning the loss of something while simultaneously feeling a weight lift from your shoulders.
Our culture tends to focus on the value of change, innovation, and letting go of what doesn't serve us, but there seems to be a dearth of messages valuing the routines that have supported us for years. Flopping on the couch and watching tv after a hard day might not be glorified, but it can gently ease us out of a stressful day. Wearing those pants that don't really flatter but that feel like a hug on your legs can be just the thing to make it through a jam-packed day. That childhood friend whose politics you don't agree with might also be able to make you laugh in a unique and familiar way. It makes sense why we cling to those things that might not propel us towards our 'best life'; they stabilize, ground, and reinforce that things are ok.
Yet change has to happen. Some of it we choose and some of it we don't. As the feelings arise, it seems important to acknowledge how hard change can be while making space for discovery. Meeting each feeling of fear with a deep breath can give us that millimeter of space needed to get through to the next moment. It's scary, challenging, and exciting. You don't know what's on the other side for the first time in a while. Take one more step forward and perhaps you'll find the energy to keep going.