Change does not come easily. It’s disruptive by its very nature even when we see it coming and welcome it with open arms. As such, while faithfully embracing the necessary changes of life, we do well to allow ourselves plenty of time to acclimate to new seasons whenever they come as well.
It’s tempting to believe we can jump from one thing to the next without missing a beat. And perhaps many times quick adjustments can be made. But often we must allow time to transition and acclimate to the new before us.
For instance, new relationships take time to get used to. Whether it’s at work, in friendships, marriage, new kids, or the like, it takes time to adjust to new people and create room for them in our lives. And there’s a natural stress that comes with this change, as we must develop new rhythms and relational responsibilities. Life will not be the same again and it takes time to acclimate to this new.
The same is true when it comes to loss. We don’t just get over someone or something no longer being in our lives. While time continues to march on, it still takes a while for us to adjust to life without. And we are not being kind to ourselves when we don’t allow time to adapt to these new realities.
Like the first dip into the pool, to acclimate is simply giving ourselves the grace needed to adapt to new surroundings, relationships, and ways of being. And from the mundane to the profound, we only frustrate ourselves when we expect too much – assuming we’re not bothered by change.
It’s patience and grace that allow for smoother transitions.
To be sure, change is disruptive. Allow yourself time to acclimate to discover greater peace through the transitions of life.
Photo by Sharon Christina Rørvik on Unsplash
