Reclaiming Your Joy During Seasons of Change: A Reminder to Nourish Yourself

A friend sent me a message the other day saying she was lying in bed because she needed her time.

For context, she has a six-month-old. And in that moment, her time meant simply lying there, resting, recharging, replying to friends, and just being for a moment.

I replied, "Enjoy YOUR time."

And suddenly…lightbulb moment.

Maybe it's because this idea has been fresh in my awareness lately, but I saw something I had never noticed before.

The word YOUR has OUR in it.

Your time is for the other. Because when we nourish ourselves, when we fill our spirit, tend to our inner gardens, and cultivate presence, they blossom for everyone around us to see, enjoy, and experience.

This was my reminder. And maybe, it's yours too, especially if you're navigating a period of significant personal transformation.

A reminder to fill up your own cup, not just for yourself, but because the world feels your energy. To do things just because they light you up, not just because they serve a practical purpose or advance your growth.

So, I signed myself up for a visit to a finca in the mountains here in Costa Rica…one I had been eyeing for months.

Because I had forgotten.

I forgot to dance. I forgot to sing. I forgot to play.

Somewhere along the way in the last year, as I moved through my own metamorphosis, life became serious. I had been so focused on healing, repair, and personal development that I stopped tending to my own joy.

I told myself, But I am! I have my morning practices. I move my body. I take care of myself.

But really? That was just maintenance.

Now, it's time to expand again, to have new experiences, to create connective moments, to ignite intuition through presence and play, even while continuing to evolve.

Thanks to a few big breakthroughs recently (full moon, eclipse energy maybe doing its thing?), I realized just how much I had forgotten to take inventory.

Not of my work. Not of my to-do list. But of my own spirit and what brings it alive, especially during this time of personal redefinition.

So, I pulled a card from my Simple Shifts Rituals for Change deck, the one called Inner Inventory: What Makes Your Spirit Happy?

It's an invitation to:

• List the things that bring you joy.

• Notice where you are doing them (and celebrate that!).

• See where you're not, so you can start watering those parts of yourself again.

Maybe today, as you navigate your own personal evolution, this invitation is yours too.

Take a moment. Ask yourself:

• What made my spirit happy before this period of change began?

• Which joy-bringing activities have I maintained during this transformation?

• Which sources of delight have I neglected while focusing on growth?

And then… go water what needs watering. Because personal transformation isn't just about shedding old patterns and developing new ones, it's also about reclaiming and protecting what has always brought you alive.

During times of significant change, we often become so focused on what needs fixing, healing, or improving that we forget to nurture the parts of ourselves that have always sparkled with joy. These elements of your authentic self deserve preservation and celebration, even as other aspects evolve.

What's one thing your spirit loves that you've been neglecting during this season of change, and how can you give it attention today?

Remember, true transformation isn't just about becoming someone new, it's about honoring the full tapestry of who you are. This includes both the vibrant aspects that bring you joy and the quieter, more complex parts that have shaped your journey. Authentic evolution doesn't require abandoning your essence, but rather integrating your past experiences while creating space for continuous growth and new possibilities.