In my journey of healing and personal growth, I found it very helpful and supportive when I became aware of the cycle of transformation. This awareness allowed me to find myself in the cycle and then rest in the knowledge that change and ease would eventually come.
Everything has some sort of cycle or rotation. Days become nights which return to days. Winter becomes spring and then summer and fall. Cycles occur in small and in big ways and within the cycle, there is always some sort of transformation.
These cycles occur in our lives as well and are calling us towards a fuller expression of ourselves and inviting us to experience joy and purpose. One of the most relatable examples of this transformation is the cycle of the caterpillar becoming the butterfly.
The Invitation / The Call: You may feel an emptiness while you are searching for answers. Deep in your being, you feel that there is something more for you. You are leading a happy life yet something is missing. You begin to notice signs that something is wanting to change in your life. These signs can be internal or external. Deep in your core, you know that you have to stop and have a look at your life, and you may not know how to take action. The most important part of this step is to notice the invitation and then move towards action. It has been my experience that the call will get louder and louder until acknowledged.
Saying Yes / Answering The Call: When you say a powerful “Yes” to the invitation. You are ready to take action and move forward. You have taken the first step and acknowledge that it’s time to find support and begin to make changes in your life. At this stage, you may not fully understand “how” your life will be changed by this decision. Yet there is a definite clarity in your body and in your being that you “must” take this step.
Embracing the Uncertainty: As you take action, you are stepping directly into the unknown. Like a trapeze artist jumping off the platform, you know that you will be leaving aspects of your past life behind you. This can be scary as you have to “trust” that you will land safely on the other side. At this stage there is quite literally no turning back you have leaped and in most cases, you won’t be able to go back to your old ways of being.
Letting Go: You find your strength and you are connected to your deepest purpose. Knowing yourself perhaps for the first time, you let go of everything you have known and take action, trusting the outcome. You become connected to yourself in a new and powerful way; hidden strengths and talents begin to emerge. Letting go is letting grow, new possibilities now have the space to emerge.
New Beginning: Here, you are enjoying the payoff of your hard work. You are surprised at how things have turned out. You see the world differently and are firmly planted on your new path. You return to your life and your community, stronger and wiser with a clear sense of purpose and clarity. You are ready to face the next cycle when it arrives.
Ross Tayler is a Foundational Life Coach. He supports men who are feeling done with feeling stuck, anxious, and overwhelmed.
