On Change

“There is nothing to fear in the act of beginning. More often than not it knows the journey ahead better than we ever could. Perhaps the art of harvesting the secret riches of our lives is best achieved when we place profound trust in the act of beginning. Risk might be our greatest ally. To live a truly creative life, we always need to cast a critical look at where we presently are, attempting always to discern where we have become stagnant and where new beginning might be ripening. There can be no growth if we do not remain open and vulnerable to what is new and different. I have never seen anyone take a risk for growth that was not rewarded a thousand times over.”
John O’Donohue – To Bless the Space Between Us

Our life is an ongoing dance of endings and new beginnings. Sometimes change is catapulted upon us and other times it comes slowly, gently, and by choice.

Either way, there’s a rhythm to change. It involves a cycle coming to an end, followed by a period of reflection and letting go. This period, also called transition, eventually leads to meaningful insights, clarity, and renewed energy to launch a new chapter.

The pace and timing of the process are unique to each of us. Sometimes the dance goes two steps forward and other times, one step backward. During these times, when we may feel unsure, hesitant, and maybe a little afraid, we often wish for someone to walk alongside us and listen without judgment.

In 2000, I launched my coaching practice to provide support, guidance, and inspiration to people who were struggling with work-life balance and change. Twenty-three years later, and having gone through many changes myself, my practice and I are still evolving.

Here, I attempt to share the tools and processes that I’ve discovered and developed over the years to help you find peace, clarity, and purpose amid life’s ups and downs.

As a certified Seasons of Change® Master Coach, I use the Seasons of Change model in my work with people in transition. The model was created by Carol McClelland Fields, Ph.D., and has become a guiding force for me since 2006.

Below I have included an overview of The Seasons of Change. As you read through, pay attention to how you relate to this model. If you have questions as to how the model can help you with whatever is going on in your life right now, contact me to discuss further.

The Seasons of Change Overview
Developed by Carol McClelland, Ph.D.

Every time a change occurs in your life, you embark on a transition journey illustrated here with the seasons. Follow the spiral to discover the practical steps you can take to grow through life’s inevitable ups and downs.

Imagine that this is an upward-moving spiral that continues forever. Think of the seasons as a metaphor for the phases of any transition journey. These seasons may, or may not, match the seasons unfolding outside your window.

In any given transition, you move from Summer – a time when all is going well in your life – through Fall, Winter, and Spring, up to a new level of Summer.

Most of us have grown up believing that to be successful, we must remain in Summer at all times. But then, any change that takes us off our line of success is a threat to be avoided at all costs. There is another way.

If we see change as a naturally occurring event – much like the change of seasons – then we can embrace change as a gift and an invitation to improve and enhance our lives.

To grow through life’s inevitable ups and downs, we must move through each season in turn.