Retreat Coach on the Farm: Transitions

In Carol’s Seasons of Change work she describes the “stop signs” which warn us that the time is not right yet to move forward in our transition. Carol McClelland uses the Seasons as metaphors for moving us through our transitions with ease.

Carol talks about putting our early warning systems into place. Signs that tell us, our roads ahead are still under construction, we need to slow down.

As I recalled my own transition recently I found that I was doing just the opposite of what I learned from Carol and share with my clients as a Seasons of Change facilitator. I wasn’t paying attention to my own early warning signs.

I have a rather large undertaking with my business and the pieces were not falling into place as I had hoped they would. It felt like I was pushing to open a door that actually swings inward. No matter how hard I pushed, nothing was happening.

Looking over the Seasons for insights I discovered I had a vision but my plan wasn’t yet as clear as it needed to be for me to move ahead. I needed a little more time in winter before I put everything into action.

This is often hard for me. My personality is like the hare charging ahead. My friend Linda often comments that she is the tortoise and I am the hare. She will always say “what is the hurry?” This often stops me short and I will then stand still long enough to get a clearer view of where I am going. I tend to be a calm and quiet person yet when it comes to work I charge on.

I am now going to snuggle down in my quiet “secret spot” for a winter nap and see what wonderful insights follow. I will take myself on a personal retreat, giving myself the gift of reflection, relaxation and renewal. Journaling is my favorite way to tap into my inner knowing. I will often take my journal with me into our woods and write sitting on a log. It is winter time in Central New York today so I will need to wear snowshoes and brush snow from the log before I sit. This will make it all the more meaningful for my own time in winter.

Are you rushing anywhere in your life? Are you in too much of a hurry to have a clear view of where you are and where you are going? My want for all of you is to take the time to look around and get a really clear picture of where you want to go so that you can enjoy the magnificent journey!