Moving through change
Welcome to Autumn! A season that is literally full of transformations and shifts in nature and life. Autumn is one of my favourite seasons, and not for the pumpkin spice lattes, which might I add came out WAY too early, but instead of the cooler days and infinitive amounts of sweaters that I will no longer sweat right through.
But on a serious note, Autumn has been an encouragement as of recent times of struggles. It shows me that even though there are hard days, full of rain and darkness, those days will in time transform. Nature is pretty cool in that it can mirror how we feel at any moment, and give us hope if we can only look up and notice.
With Thanksgiving here and gone, and now Christmas is knocking on the door, reflecting on the year that just happened can be a natural tendency. Some people will tell you to “count your blessings” or ask “what are you thankful for?” as a way to shed light on the positives. And yes, gratitude can be helpful, but if it is used to cover and bury other emotions, it becomes just as heavy as everything else. When a tree’s leaves are turning brown and orange, do you say just remember how green they were? Instead, noticing the changing leaf colours creates a different experience and a love of all things cozy and warm. Noticing the changes, or the more difficult times, can help with creating a new way of moving through them and experience them to create a different perspective.
How do we notice?
I can’t necessarily say exactly how in one answer. Some suggestions could be to do a body scan; start from the head and move down to the toes, noticing sensations such as heavy, light, fuzzy, numb, tense, loose, tingly, sharp, or any other sensations that happen in the moment. Take a deep breath and notice how the body reacts; chest grows, stomach rises, shoulders move up and down. Practicing observations can help to see things as they are, and not what they could or should be.
On a personal note, a way that I’ve been practicing observing the season is to write myself a bit of a letter. A letter noticing body sensations, but also a letter with an honest observation of what the last month and a half have felt like. I’ve been able to notice both ups and downs, but a letter doesn’t necessarily need both; just viewing yourself as outside of you. So, here goes a vulnerable moment for me to choose to share with those who might find this helpful, or those to observe in a moment…
Hi Janelle,
I know you’re tired…and I know you’re tired of being tired. Your back feels a year older, and eyes are heavier at times. September included a big shift with the new school year, and the stress of change was harder than you originally thought. Your routine is different, maybe not working out quite as much as you’d like, and as a result your body has evolved a bit. Even though things are hard, I’ve seen you trying hard to find balance, and reaching out to ask for help, and weirdly accepting it too. You have gone on a few walks and are starting to feel more comfortable in the person you are becoming, but still a little nervous of how much more change will happen. At times, you wish things could be easier, or maybe simpler. And that will happen, but not immediately. Trust your gut; and remember to take breaks when needed, and if there’s no time for a break, take a moment, however that looks like. Sometimes you feel guilty when your best right now doesn’t feel like your best, which is totally understandable! Right now is not forever, and maybe write that down somewhere, really anywhere, to help as a reminder. Right now is a season, and seasons will change in time.
I am very grateful for this space to voice my thoughts and provide you either insight or a moment of reflection. Even as a therapist, I still struggle with my mental health. I need to reach deep into my mental “tool bag” to remind myself of previous skills or moments to move through a season. To continue with my seasons and earth metaphor, (and if you know me, you know I love a good visual metaphor) trees tend to have roots that connect with other organisms, and sometimes other tree. And just like trees, we as people need to reach out and make similar connections. Whether it’s family, friends, or therapists, our team at Panorama Wellness are more than willing to be with you during this season, reflecting and observing the changes together.
Janelle Traber is a Registered Clinical Counsellor who works with youth and young adults navigating how anxiety and depression show up in their lives. If you would like to find out more, or book an appointment with Janelle, contact us at info@panoramawellnessgroup.ca.
