I moved apartments this past weekend.  Distance wise, it wasn’t far, but it certainly reminded me of the distress that can occur with change.  Life’s transitions may be good or bad (and often both) and it is disorienting and taxing on our emotions and mental health.

It seemed a metaphor for life as I sorted through my belongings and chose which objects to keep and which to discard.  Even the items that I knew were old and no longer useful held sentimental attachment and it took some effort to relinquish them.  Much like the patterns we adopt in life.  Sometimes it takes a big shake up in order to give ourselves permission to let go of things that do not serve us anymore, whether that be old dishes, bad habits or destructive thinking patterns.

These times of change also alert us to the things that we may have put aside but want to restart.  (I swear, after this move I will put my art supplies to use!).  For example, maybe at one time you may have started developing practices such as exercise or meditation that were edges out of your life by general busy-ness.  You may decide to take up these pursuits again when life changes cause you recall the positive effects.

Through the whole move, the biggest challenge for me was undeniably the mental and emotional adjustment rather than the physical move itself.  It was a roller coaster of emotions that is slowly starting to ease off as I strive to remain open to the fullness of the experience.

If you are going through your own life changes, try as best you can to be gentle with yourself.  Allow yourself to be sad and happy all at the same time.  Give yourself permission to let go and reach out just as you need to.  And remember that it won’t be long before you are looking back at this transformative time knowing that you made it through.