How To Handle Change
Hummingbirds delight me all summer. Why can’t they stay longer?
From Hummingbird to Goose
I marvel all summer as hummingbirds dine on patio plants. Often I’ll hear them before I catch a glimpse of their flashy feathers. I even have my family trained to stop, offer a soft, “Hummingbird” and then make no sudden movements.
That hum. The chirp. I settle in to watch the miniature helicopter dart from flower to flower, coaxing out that sweet nectar. Joy!
As summer begins to age, I hear another cry. Loud. Honking. High up in the sky. Geese.
Those long Vs stretching across the sky pointing to change: go back to school, to college, to routines defined by ringing bells and darkening evenings.
It’s this in-between state that plays with my mind. I had a life coach tell me that it’s like being in the hallway deciding which door to walk through. Indecision.
Is change the same as transition?
Change is natural
Evolutionary. Unavoidable. The tides turning. Seasons changing. Bodies aging.
Transition
Transition is how we handle change. Do we stay stuck in the past, live in the moment, or obsess about the future?
Job promotions. Downsizing. Marriage. Divorce. Growing family. Empty Nest. Carpools. Car repairs.
How do I handle change? How do you handle change?
Like seeing two solid lines on a Covid test. I can rewind past activities. Where did I get it? I should have stayed home. Skipped the art show. Maybe it was dinner. That’s it. I’ll never go out to eat again.
My mind fast forwards to how long it will take me to test negative. And all the ramifications. Meetings I need to cancel. My beloved Women’s Circle I’ll reschedule. Outdoor yoga classes. How I’ll impact my family. Routines broken. Practices missed. Beach days crashing to an artificial end.
Then, I’m just me. In the here and the now.
Tipping Point
It’s that tipping point, where I accept. Sometimes not with a lot of grace. That’s okay. Change can be disruptive. Unwanted.
Acceptance
Accepting change is moving through it all. Through the transition. If you can be gentle with yourself during this time, giving yourself grace and forgiveness for moments when you’re not 100%, then chances are you move through it a lot faster. You open the door to the next room, leaving the uncertainty of the hallway behind.
Perfect?
Life is a bunch of visits to the hallway. Then the choosing of which door is next. Which door you’ll open to step into a new room of possibility? Even when you’re in a bedroom quarantining, you learn something.
As I hear the geese overhead, watching the empty blossoms of my hummingbird plant bask in the sun, I realize it’s time. Time for something new. Time to plant seeds and see what grows next.
How does that song go?
To everything, turn, turn, turn.
There is a season, turn, turn, turn.
And a time to every purpose under Heaven.
- The Byrds
Let me know if you’re facing changes where you may need a helping hand. That’s what I’m here for as a life coach. I can hand you tools so you can navigate what comes next.
About Susan and 3C Clarity
Susan Tompkins is an Intuitive Life Coach, creator of Energy Art, and self-declared Sacred Rebel. The 3Cs of Clarity — coaching, creativity, and compassion are offered to help Women live their Best Life through energy work. Inspired by Maine’s woods and waters, Susan conducts workshops, healing circles, 1:1 coaching sessions, and guided meditations for those seeking clarity.
