Braving New Seasons and Beginnings
By Nathan LeFebre, Sync Clinical Psychology Trainee
Springing Ahead
It may be hard to believe, but we are quickly approaching the spring equinox– the official start of spring on March 20th. Of course, new seasons are nothing really new to most of us. And yet, something about this time this year has caused me to step back and think more deeply about newness; about transitions, new seasons of life, and what it is like to be a “beginner” at something.
Beyond the Comfort Zone
I think that we can all relate to the experience of facing life transitions, as each of us has, at one time or another, felt the unique anxieties and stresses of starting something new. Sometimes, even the thought of venturing out into new territory might bring on such anxiety that we never even take that first step. We may fear failure, or perhaps fear the unknown that lies on the other side of that first step. We may feel comfortable where we are and not want to risk trying something beyond our known comfort zone. These fears can surface when we start something difficult or challenging. But fears can also arise in new life situations that are exciting. It’s possible and normal for new situations in our lives to be both exciting and challenging, simultaneously.
Life Transitions
This has certainly been my personal experience over the past months. Just this past summer, I moved 1,800 miles across the country from Grand Rapids, Michigan to Los Angeles, California and began a new season here at Sync Counseling Center in Sierra Madre (a good and exciting thing, to be sure). Throughout this transition to a new city, I’ve felt excitement, curiosity, and joy alongside uncertainty, anxiety, and apprehension. In addition to these life transitions, my fiancé and I have also been planning our wedding for this spring. With all of this change comes excitement and celebration, of course, but also stress and difficult decisions. Needless to say, it is no wonder that I’ve found myself thinking about newness– I’ve been living through transitions for the better part of a year.
New Seasons and Adventures
My experiences with life transitions have taught me something valuable, and I would imagine that many of us have had similar experiences. I have learned that transitions, new seasons, and starting anew can be exhilarating, but can also be stressful… and that’s okay. The excitement of a new adventure does not minimize the very real reality of the stressors involved. Nor do the stressors have to dash the excitement of trying something new. All of these feelings are a part of what it means to be a beginner. It is both okay and normal to feel a range of emotions in seasons of change.
Being Beginners
At the present moment, we are all beginners in some sense. As the latest COVID-19 surge seems to wind down, we find ourselves adjusting to life in a new, COVID-shaped reality where nothing is quite as it was. Pre-pandemic routines were disrupted, our COVID pandemic routines became our new reality, and now even those pandemic routines are starting to change. If my own experiences this year have taught me something, it is to allow yourself to feel both the excitement and the anxieties that come with starting something new. Lean on those around you to support you, or perhaps start something new with someone else. After all, each and every one of us was a beginner once. New beginnings open the door to new experiences. And these experiences can potentially take you to places you never thought you would be.
If you would like support in navigating the current transitions in your life, please reach out to us at Sync Counseling Center, 626-263-7528.