Toward This = Away From That

To wrap up our heART❤️SCHOOL module on Transitions, I chose these photos that capture moments of change. I invite you to exercise your imagination in picturing what each subject could be moving toward, as well as what is being left behind. After all, being open to change requires a willingness not just to let the new in, but to release (and perhaps mourn) what is lost.

Another word for this process: Life. 😉

Final image is from a painting by Wayne Thiebaud.
All photos were taken by me, except for the 4th one in which I am the subject, circa 1971. Photo credit for that one is unknown.

Every transition, no matter how small, involves movement in more than one direction, towards this and away from that. I am just beginning to understand the important role grieving plays in the change process. Even making space for new learning involves allowing old beliefs to die.

No wonder people resist change. 😬

May we each accept — and instigate — transitions with trust, openness, and grace. May we learn how to grieve what’s been lost, even as we invite in what is new. And may all of the hard-earned lessons from our past travel with us as guiding wisdom.

With love in these unpredictable times,
Pam

P.S. Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed by the anxiety of uncertainty? Would you like to strengthen your “proactive imagination muscles”? If so, I recommend my book: Doodle Your Way Out of Stuckness: Imagination Lessons for Changing the World (and rearranging your furniture). It’s a whimsical, light-hearted, yet soulful exploration of some of the forces that keep us creatively frozen and fearful. The exercises are approachable, I whisper silly things in your ear via speech bubbles throughout the book, and each page is color-able because I doodled the whole darn thing by hand.

Find it and other great gift ideas here in my shop. 😘