Disclosure: I only recommend products/services I would use myself and feel might benefit you as well. This post contains affiliate links, and I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
I was taking a walk the other day looking for some inspiration, and I couldn’t help but be grateful for the changing color of the leaves, the mild fall air, and the cute decorations that lined the outside of most people’s houses. I had been longing for fall for weeks, and it was finally here.
I absolutely love the change of the seasons. Towards the end of each season, I get a bit bored of it and look forward to the new activities, events, and routines that the next season will bring.
Whether most of us like to admit it or not, I’m a firm believer that deep down, we all get at least a little bit excited for the changing of the seasons, whatever our reasoning may be. Our anticipation of the changing in the seasons of nature can teach us a lot about the changing in the seasons of our lives.
For the love of change
As summer ends, many of us get excited for the milder temperatures, the change in wardrobe, fall decorations and activities, and of course, all things pumpkin. As the months pass by, we start to get that warm, fuzzy feeling inside for the holidays and we look forward to a fluffy, white blanket of snow as we get in the holiday spirit. As winter wears on, we long for sunshine and warmer temperatures to get out of the house and see trees and flowers bloom again. And as spring settles in, we are filled with anticipation for all the plans, travel, and warm weather that summer brings along. And then the whole cycle starts again.
Just as we love (or even enjoy in the secret of our own mind) the changing of the seasons in nature, we should embrace the changing of the seasons in our life. For some seasons, this is easy. We look forward to major life events like new houses, marriage, kids, etc. For some seasons, this is difficult to embrace, especially when we don’t view the change as positive.
But just as the seasons must change in nature, the seasons in our life must change too. Left constant for too long, elements of nature will become stagnant or overworked and will be begin to deteriorate rather than thrive. The same goes for us. Left stagnant for too long, we begin to become unhappy for one reason or another. Left hyperactive for too long, we become overworked and burnt out.
The seasons in our lives come and go for reasons, so while at face value it may be hard to embrace the onset of certain seasons, we can take comfort that all seasons come into our lives for a reason and the can know for certain that seasons are bound to change at some point.
Uncertainty is the constant
While we generally know what to expect from each of the seasons, such as cold temperatures and snow in the winter and warm temperatures and long days in the summer, the seasons are still generally unpredictable. We don’t know how much snow each winter will bring. We also don’t know what varying elements the summer will bring such as the thick wildfire smoke experienced in much of the Midwest this summer.
The same goes for our lives. There may be seasons that we anticipate will be just the change that we’re looking for that end up letting us down in the end and not meeting our expectations. The opposite can also be true though, where we head into a new season of life filled with anxiety and stress just to be pleasantly surprised with how we bloomed and grew throughout that season.
The uncertainty and the highs and lows of each season are what make life… well, life. Just as living beings in nature require changes in the season to get both a dose of healthy stress and times of rest and abundance, we require the same changes in season. Sometimes the stress and pressure help us grow, and sometimes we just need a season to be rejuvenated.
It’s important to remember throughout the uncertainty that one bad season does not make a bad year but rather is likely preparing you for growth and abundance ahead.
Control is sometimes an illusion
While there’s a great deal that we can and should take charge of in our lives, some areas of our life are just out of our control. The same thing goes for the seasons. You can wear leggings and boots, get a pumpkin spice latte, and decorate for fall all you want but that doesn’t mean that there won’t still be days in the 80s. And we all know that as hard as we try, we can’t force spring to arrive after a long winter.
Life can be the same way. While we may be longing for the next season of our life, we may not be done with our purpose in the current season. More likely than not, the thing that is out of your control and preventing you from moving to the next season is leading you down some better path, whether that is your own personal growth or impact you may be having on others. While we can certainly take all the necessary steps in our lives to be aware, proactive, and accountable, God is ultimately in control of the outcomes, just like the seasons, and may be steering you where you may not realize you need to be.
The long story short is basically this: change is inevitable. As such, we should embrace the change rather than fight it. We should remember that one bad season doesn’t necessitate a bad year and quite often can lead to unexpected positive outcomes. We should remember that some aspects of life are out of our control, but we may be headed down a path that is even greater than we could’ve imagined.
If you are looking to more willingly and energetically embrace each season, let’s chat to see if I can support you on your journey to joy, purpose, and freedom in your own life!
Disclosure: I only recommend products/services I would use myself and feel might benefit you as well. This post contains affiliate links, and I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Disclaimer: This blog should not be construed as providing, or intending to provide, professional financial, legal, psychological, or other professional advice. It is simply meant to share my experiences for those that may find them relatable and helpful.