Turning Leaves: Understanding Change & Fear
It’s beautiful—and yet, it can also stir something deep inside us.
Embracing Change in the Season of Letting Go
It’s beautiful—and yet, it can also stir something deep inside us.
Change, no matter how natural, often brings uncertainty. Even positive transitions—new jobs, relationships, moves, or personal growth—can awaken a quiet undercurrent of fear. Our minds crave predictability. When routines shift or the future feels unclear, anxiety can rise like a chill wind, whispering What if?
But what if we met change with curiosity instead of resistance?
Why Change Feels Scary
Fear of change is deeply human. It’s rooted in our brain’s natural instinct to keep us safe. The unknown feels risky, even when logic tells us it’s not. When something familiar ends or begins to evolve, our nervous system sounds the alarm: Danger—something’s different!
This doesn’t mean we’re weak or overly sensitive—it means we’re alive and wired to survive. The key isn’t to silence fear but to listen to what it’s trying to say. Often, fear acts as a messenger, revealing what matters most or where we feel most vulnerable.
Meeting Uncertainty with Gentle Awareness
When change stirs anxiety, awareness is your anchor. Pause, breathe, and notice what’s happening inside you. Ask yourself:
What exactly am I afraid of losing or not knowing?
What might this change be inviting me to grow into?
Meet your answers with compassion, not criticism. Naming your fear out loud can soften its hold. Simple grounding practices—like deep breathing, mindful walking, or journaling—can bring your body back to the present moment, where calm lives.
Lessons from the Trees
The trees never resist their transformation. They turn, release, and trust that renewal will come again. We can learn from their rhythm—a reminder that change is not an ending, but part of a larger, ongoing cycle.
When you move with change rather than against it, you begin to find steadiness in motion. Fear loosens its grip, and what remains is openness—a readiness to see what new growth might take root.
A Gentle Reflection
This week, take time to notice where change is unfolding in your life. Is there a shift you’ve been resisting or something you’re being called to release?
Write down one small way you can support yourself through that transition—perhaps a few moments of stillness each day, reaching out for support, or simply reminding yourself:
“It’s okay to feel uncertain. I can meet change with calm.”
Just like the leaves, you don’t have to hold on forever. Sometimes peace begins the moment you let go.
Coming Next Week: Harvesting Peace
As we continue our Fall Into Calm series, next week’s post—Harvesting Peace—will explore simple, soothing tools to ease anxiety and create more balance in your everyday life. Think of it as gathering what nourishes you for the season ahead.
