What We Can Learn from Seasons of Change
Change is hard. There’s no way around it.
Even when we choose to change—leaving a draining job, stepping into a new chapter, or shifting how we live—there’s often resistance, grief, and uncertainty. But just like the seasons, change is natural, necessary, and ultimately full of wisdom if we let it teach us.
Let’s break it down.
It’s Hard
Even when we’re excited, transitions rarely feel smooth. Change often asks us to release things we’ve outgrown—titles, routines, or even identities we’ve held onto for years. That’s uncomfortable and can put us on un-even footing.
It can feel like winter: quiet, bare, even lonely at times. Or spring, roaring in with a wild thunderstorm. We crave certainty, yet change strips away the familiar. It’s important to name that reality instead of pretending change is always easy or exciting. Our routines - putting on snow boots, going to the beach - all disrupted and out of our control.
It can also be unexpected. Just like winter can come early and spring can come late - sometimes we don’t always have full control over when it’s coming and it makes the change that much harder.
We might even feel in-between “seasons” - not sure exactly where we stand for the moment. This is all part of why change can be so hard, and disorienting.
Why We Resist
We resist change because it threatens our sense of safety and it’s the unknown. Change implies uncertainty. The brain and its wiring prefer patterns and predictability. Even if the old way wasn’t serving us, at least it was known.
Fear of failure, loss of control, or even the pressure of others’ expectations can keep us clinging to what we’ve outgrown. It’s like trying to hold onto autumn leaves when winter has already arrived—the longer we resist, the harder it feels.
Why Change And New Seasons Are Good
But here’s the truth: seasons of change are where growth actually happens.
Change interrupts autopilot and can re-wire our brains.
It forces us to reexamine what we value and where we are focusing now.
It opens space for new opportunities we couldn’t see before.
Spring only comes after winter. The renewal, the clarity, the fresh possibilities—those don’t arrive if we refuse to let things shift. Change is good because it clears what no longer fits, making space for what’s next.
You won’t ever know what’s on the other side, truly, until you find out for yourself. Change and growth is the sign of evolution, but it can feel disruptive when it’s happening.
What Happens
When we finally surrender to change, something shifts inside us.
We might feel a mix of grief and relief. There’s discomfort in the letting go, but also new energy in the stepping forward. Slowly, we realize we’re stronger and more adaptable than we thought.
Like seasons, change has a rhythm: endings, transitions, and new beginnings. Recognizing that pattern helps us move through with less fear and more trust.
We trust ourselves more. We have been through the long winter and got through it.
We develop strong bonds with others that have gone through similar experiences.
And lastly, different seasons give us different reasons to celebrate. The same is true for life seasons. If you’re not taking all that you’re learning in life and applying it to something new eventually, you’ll feel stagnant.
Change is the constant momentum that keeps us going. Try not to resist it, yet meet it with curiosity.
Thriving Through Change
If you’re in a season of change, here are a few ways to navigate it with more clarity and purpose:
Name the season you’re in. Is this a winter (letting go), a spring (new growth), a summer (thriving), or an autumn (harvest and reflection)? Naming helps normalize where you are.
Anchor to your values. Let them be your compass when old structures fall away.
Regulate your nervous system. Change can feel destabilizing—prioritize practices (like breathwork, journaling, yoga, or walks in nature) that bring you back to center.
Seek support. You don’t have to navigate seasons alone. Mentors, peers, or coaching can provide perspective and accountability.
Focus on possibility. Ask: What might this season be making space for?
Final Takeaway
Every season has something to teach us. Change may be uncomfortable, but it’s also the fertile ground where growth, clarity, and purpose take root.
Instead of fearing seasons of change, we can choose to embrace them—trusting that each one prepares us for what’s next.
If you’re ready to navigate your own season of change with clarity and purpose, I’d love to help you design your next chapter. Inside The Strategic Executive Exit, you’ll build a blueprint for what’s next—so you can stop resisting and start thriving.
Take our free training today and schedule some time to speak with me!