Highly Sensitive People and The Seasons of Change
During seasons of change, a highly sensitive person may need extra space and time for the deep processing that naturally occurs as the nervous system absorbs, filters, and settles the influx of new information. It may also stir emotions and create inner noise, making even small hills seem like large mountains to traverse. Whether you’re facing an internal call to action or experiencing a shift beyond your control, change brings up questions that require careful consideration:
- What indicates that something is ready to change?
- How does change move from intention to reality?
- What sustains motivation through a season of change?
As Joanne Macy and Chris Johnstone put it, “When we find a good story and fully give ourselves to it, that story can act through us, breathing new life into everything we do.”
Integration and Settling Through a Season of Change
The challenge for sensitive people is balancing vision and action with a rhythm and pace that suits our individual needs. Too slow, and motivation wanes; too fast, and chaos takes over. Change happens best when it has time to settle within us.
The Event vs The Growth
An epiphany may spark change, but true transformation comes through the slow, steady work of practice and patience. It’s easy to confuse the flash of inspiration with the long-term growth process, but lasting change takes time.
Discernment and Timing
Knowing when to act is an art in itself. Some signs are clear, while others require reflection and discussion—both with ourselves and in the company of others. Together, we can sift through the noise and find the best way forward.
When Fear Drives a Season of Change
Not all change is necessary. Sometimes, we use it as a distraction to avoid difficult conversations or the messy middle of projects. Recognising the difference between productive change and procrastination is crucial.
Messiness, Waste, and Chaff
Change brings with it excess—things that seem vital in the moment but, over time, prove unnecessary. These discarded elements, though, are part of the process. As trees scatter seeds abundantly for future growth, not all ideas or actions are necessary.
Looking Back with Clarity
It’s often said that hindsight is 20/20, but it can also be rose-tinted. When we look back on changes, they seem more straightforward and easier than they actually were. We forget the hard work, the uncertainty, and the chaos that accompanied them. Embracing the entire journey of change means honouring the mess and confusion, not just the success.
Anchor Points and Pivot Points
In times of change, it’s tempting to overhaul everything. But to stay grounded, we must distinguish between what should remain stable (anchor points) and what needs to shift (pivot points). This careful balance helps prevent chaos and fosters sustainable transformation.
The Change Quiz
It can be hard to know where to focus your energy and attention when responding to life’s changes. Maybe you’re ready to make a change but are uncertain about what to do next. Or perhaps you’re in a season of change but struggling to find a firm footing.
The Change Quiz is designed to help you understand the overall landscape in your current relationship with change. This will help you consider simple, manageable, gentle steps to take as you move into this season of change.
The Change Quiz
It can be hard to know where to focus your energy and attention when responding to life’s changes. Maybe you’re ready to make a change but are uncertain about what to do next. Or perhaps you’re undergoing an undesired change and struggling to find footing.
The Change Quiz is designed to help you understand the overall landscape in your current relationship with change. This will help you consider simple, manageable, gentle steps to take as you move into this season of change.
