We are bringing “Darling Letters” from your inbox to the blog! We love the art of letter writing and believe it helps build authentic community. Our editors and contributors have thoughtfully written encouraging letters to cut through the busyness and speak straight to your heart.
“Any time I meet a new friend, it’s like I’m inviting them to my dinner party, but I lock the door,” a friend said to me once while we were out to coffee. “Even if they want to leave my life, I won’t let them out because I’m not allowing them to change.”?
This led to a discussion about the human tendency to cling to, not just people, but old ways of living, jobs, locations or seasons of life. So often when we are on the precipice of a transition, we shrink back. We attempt to control the outcome by staying in the familiar, but we need only to surrender.
So often when we are on the precipice of a transition, we shrink back.
Stepping out into something new takes tremendous courage. To move forward, we must acknowledge the end of something that once felt fulfilling.
If you’re risk-averse like me, this is challenging. Simultaneously, I know that if I’m even considering moving on from someone or something that there are significant reasons that lead me there. Continuously reminding myself of those reasons pushes me forward.
When you embark on a new path, you may feel a pull to compare your present to the past. Yet, all seasons have a sweetness to offer that we can only fully enjoy by being present in them. We cling to predictability, but if we never leave jobs, friendships or seasons of life that no longer fit us, we will miss out on new opportunities and revelations.
Stepping out into something new takes tremendous courage.
It’s OK to feel trepidation in the face of transition, but, instead of fighting it, accept change. The courage to embrace change is what brings richness to our lives.
With courage,
Annika Hoiem, the Darling family
Why is it important to grieve change and transition, even when it’s a good change? What has helped you learn to embrace change?
Image via Judith Pavón Sayrach
