How to Move Through Change (Without Losing Yourself)

Change can feel exciting… at first.

A new routine. A fresh start. A different direction.

But then reality sets in.

Things feel unfamiliar. Messy. A little harder than expected.

And suddenly, what felt motivating can start to feel overwhelming.

In midlife especially, change shows up in a lot of ways — schedules shift, priorities evolve, energy fluctuates, and what used to work… doesn’t always work anymore.

It’s easy to want to avoid it, delay it, or go back to what feels comfortable.

But the truth is — you don’t go around change.

You move through it.

And that’s where real growth happens.

There was a time in my life when everything seemed to be changing at once.

Where I lived.

How I worked.

What my days looked like.

And if you’ve ever been in a season like that, you know — change can feel hard.

It can bring up a mix of emotions:

• self-doubt

• anxiety

• frustration

• uncertainty

But also:

• excitement

• hope

• possibility

Because even when change is positive, it still challenges you.

It pulls you out of your comfort zone, asks you to adjust, and stretches you in ways you didn’t expect.

And that takes energy — mentally, physically, and emotionally.

Action Changes Things

The coach in me knows change can bring growth, opportunity, and new possibilities.

But the human side of me?

It knows that’s not always how it feels.

Sometimes change feels uncomfortable.

Uncertain.

Like something you’d rather avoid or put off.

Because most of us prefer change on our own terms — the kind we can plan and control.

But here’s the truth:

Even when change is planned, we can’t always predict how it will feel or what it will bring.

New routines, new roles, new goals — they all come with unexpected challenges.

Because every step forward creates something new.

And whether we’re ready or not, life keeps moving and evolving.

Learning the Hard Way

Back in 2016, I stepped into a season of big change.

I sold my home.

Moved my business.

Moved in with my (now) husband.

Became a stepmom.

It was exciting… and also a lot.

At first, I felt ready.

Motivated. Confident. Up for the challenge.

But once everything started happening at once, that confidence quickly shifted.

What I didn’t expect was the overwhelm.

The uncertainty.

The emotional ups and downs.

The feeling of being completely out of rhythm.

Instead of feeling capable, I started to feel drained.

And I remember thinking — why does this feel so different than before?

Then it hit me.

It wasn’t just one change.

It was everything changing at the same time.

My routines were off.

I felt out of control.

Disconnected from what usually grounded me.

And the pace I was trying to keep?

It wasn’t realistic — or sustainable.

Too much change at once can make even the strongest routine fall apart.

So Now What?

When you’re moving through a lot of change, it can feel like everything is heightened.

Stress increases.

Emotions feel heavier.

And even the smallest things can feel harder than usual.

You may notice:

• your usual routines slipping

• your patience feeling shorter

• your energy pulled in too many directions

But there’s another side to it, too.

Because in the middle of that discomfort, you start to learn some important things:

• how to slow down and take things one step at a time

• what actually matters (and what doesn’t)

• where your limits are — and how to honor them

• that your daily choices still carry a lot of power

  
  

You may not be able to control everything that’s changing around you.

But you can control how you show up within it.

The “Aha” Moment

At some point, I realized something had to shift.

I couldn’t keep putting my energy into what used to be — I had to focus on what I was building now.

Instead of trying to control everything or figure it all out at once, I started asking:

What can I do today?

What’s within my control right now?

That shift changed everything.

I began to let go of the need to have all the answers and focused on making the best decisions I could in the moment.

I had to redefine what success looked like in this season.

Not perfect.

Not finished.

Just moving forward.

Because worrying, overthinking, and holding on to the past wasn’t helping me feel better — or move forward.

I realized I could appreciate what I had built, be proud of it, and still allow myself to grow into something new.

There was still more ahead.

More to learn.

More to build.

More possibility than I could see at the time.

And as I started to adjust my expectations and give myself more grace, things began to feel lighter.

I wasn’t behind.

I was just in a new chapter.

What Change Teaches Us

Change has a way of showing us what we might not see otherwise.

It teaches us that:

• what we resist the most can sometimes be exactly what we need

• you can’t build something new while holding too tightly to the past

• it’s okay to pause, reassess, and redirect your energy

• growth often requires a little discomfort first

• routines are helpful — but flexibility is where growth happens

• asking for (and accepting) help is a strength, not a weakness

• when one path doesn’t work, there’s always another way forward

• support, connection, and joy can come from unexpected places

• everything — even the hard seasons — is temporary

Change doesn't just challenge you – it teaches you.

I Am a Work in Progress

That was then, and this is now.

I’ve learned a lot, grown a lot, and changed in ways I didn’t expect — while still staying true to who I am at my core.

Some of it has felt exciting and energizing.

Some of it has felt hard and exhausting.

That’s the reality of change.

The good and the hard can exist at the same time — and they often do.

I’ve come to appreciate the moments where I can slow down, breathe, and notice the small, simple things.

Because change will come again.

And when it does, I may or may not feel ready — but I trust that I can move through it.

And if you’re in a season of change right now — feeling a little off, out of rhythm, or unsure where to start…

You don’t have to figure it all out at once.

Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is come back to simple, supportive habits that help you feel grounded again.

If you’re ready to feel more grounded and consistent again…

My free guide, How to Lose Fat Over 40, will help you simplify your habits and create a routine that works for you — right where you are.