Have you ever had something happen to you, and you ask yourself the question, “Why me”? This could be from health issues, relationship difficulties, career setbacks, personal loss, or through an accident or trauma.
I think we have all, at some point in our lives, been in a situation where this has happened to us.
Our negative self-talk kicks in; we get in our heads about what has happened, not realizing that life is happening for us, not to us.
Our mind does not like change, as it’s our brain’s job to protect us from the unknown. It will automatically go into thinking of the worst possible scenario that it starts to take over the body.
We may start to notice our stress levels rise, which increases our heart rate, & blood pressure, it can weaken our immune system, cause sleep disturbance, muscle tension & pain, and can cause issues with your gut & digestion as well as mental health challenges.
We have to accept that our lives are not linear and that we will be asked to pivot and go down a different road in our lives that matches who we truly are.
To put this in context, I’ll use the metaphor of the four seasons to explain the emotional journey you may experience.
Winter – This period represents a period of loss, adversity, and struggles. It’s a time when you may feel a sense of emptiness, sadness, or confusion.
Some of the signs & symptoms of winter are:
- the feeling of being overwhelmed by the loss or change.
- experiencing intense emotions such as sadness, anger, or frustration.
- withdrawing from social activities and isolating yourself.
- having difficulty sleeping and noticing changes in your appetite.
- start questioning your self-worth.
Spring – This symbolizes a time of renewal, growth, and hope. It’s when you start to heal and find new possibilities.
Some of the signs & symptoms of Spring are:
- Feeling a sense of acceptance for what has happened and beginning to let go of the past.
- Where you start seeking support from family, friends, or professionals.
- You start exploring new interests, hobbies, or career opportunities.
- You experience moments of optimism and hope for the future.
- You begin taking small steps towards rebuilding your life and self-confidence.
Summer – This is the season of growth, self-discovery & empowerment. This is when you start to regain your strength and create a new path for yourself.
Some of the signs & symptoms of Summer are:
- A time to embrace personal growth & self-improvement.
- Start setting new goals and aspirations for yourself.
- You start feeling a renewed sense of purpose & motivation.
- It’s a time to start building new relationships & expanding your support network.
- You start to celebrate your achievements & milestones along the way.
Autumn – Is the season of reflection, gratitude & acceptance. It’s when you gain wisdom from your experiences and find peace within yourself.
Some of the signs & symptoms of Autumn are:
- A time to reflect on the lessons learned from past challenges.
- It creates a sense of gratitude for the journey you’re on and the growth it has brought.
- Start embracing change & adapting to new circumstances.
- Feeling a sense of inner peace and contentment.
- Being able to share your experiences & wisdom to inspire & support others.
We can all think of a difficult time in our lives that we thought we would never get through, but looking back now, you can see you did. Instead of looking at a job loss or relationship breakup (whether intimate, family, or friendship) or a health issue as a rejection, look at it as a redirection.
We need to take a step back and flip it and say to ourselves, what is this trying to teach me? Yes, anything that is out of our regular routine will challenge us.
But we need to embrace change & challenges as they are there to help us to grow as people.
When a big life event happens, we must go through all the seasons emotionally to fully come out the other side and to appreciate the growth & knowledge we gained along the way.
Redirection is the universe, God, or your creator; whatever you believe, saying I have something even better coming for you that you just can’t see at the moment.
I 100% believe you will get through any challenges life throws at you. The big question is: do you believe in yourself to trust the process?
Trust the process; everything happens for a reason. Remember, life is happening for you, not to you.
