Here on the west coast of Canada, the crocuses have sprung and the wind, while strong, has lost much of its winter bite.
No matter where you find yourself, the change in a season brings new possibilities and transitions – spending more time outside, breaking out a different wardrobe, or even going a step further, by taking on a new professional opportunity.
If you’re part of the latter group, you might feel a little like those small, but mighty flowers – breaking through hard ground and reaching out for the warmth of a new sun.
There is something beautiful about the ways in which our seasons change: just like different phases of our lives, no two transitions are ever the same, and no season brings the same sights, sounds, and experiences as the one before.
But have you ever noticed that, unlike change in our lives, we tend to only think about the positives that a new season will bring? We talk longingly about warmer weather and longer daylight – we don’t gripe about potential showers.
So what if we as leaders changed our mindset to think differently about change – instead of worrying about what might go wrong, what we can’t do, or what might be hard, we reframed it as a new, exciting and beautiful season in our life?
Here are three things to help:
Be ready for everything
This doesn’t mean prepare for everything – but be ready to say yes to things that you didn’t anticipate or even thought possible. A lot of these things will be positives too – and remember to take pause and celebrate the wins as they come.
Stay rooted
You may change, grow, take on new goals and roles, but likely your values will remain the same. Use them as your roots as you enter unforeseen territories – they will literally keep you grounded and protect you from being shook, unceremoniously uprooted or blown away.
Don’t look too far ahead
When it a state of growth or flux, it’s tempting and often comforting to think ahead to the future, when you’re not going to remember the discomfort that accompanies change. But there is a lot to learn from being present in change – and how you react to it. Take the time to honour this stage and what you can use the next time you find yourself in a new transition.
As we welcome a new season this month, I’m curious – how do you approach change and new seasons in your life? What keeps you rooted?
