22. Meeting change with a little more ease
This past month has brought some big changes, and I can see more on the horizon. Life, relationships, the environment, they’re always shifting, but lately it feels especially present.
How we each approach change is so different. When you talk with others, you’ll usually hear either a love or hate relationship with it. I’ve always leaned toward love, especially through my 20s and 30s. Change felt far better than a stagnant, boring life. But as I’ve aged, and as my mind and body shift too, I’m not quite so sure!
One big change for me has been resuming HRT after a break. The pause was mostly out of frustration at visiting three or four chemists each month, searching for patches. But with a new menopause-specific GP, I’m back on track and this time with a patch that’s actually in stock.
I’m grateful to have access again, and grateful that menopause care is far better than what our mothers endured. But wow, going from never needing medication to having a pill box and phone reminders is a big shift. It’s a daily reminder that life is moving, that I’m getting older… and that stirs up a lot of conflicting thoughts and emotions.
Life really is to be lived right now.
There are both expected and unexpected changes weaving through every day, month, year - and for the first time I feel like I’m meeting them with more intention. I’m noticing what’s shifting, giving it a voice and creating space before reacting.
What’s helping me most:
Journaling. Life’s shifts can be overwhelming. Writing freely, without filters, helps me clear loops of thought before I speak them aloud. It’s a tool I wish more people used.
Leaning on my people. Friends, family, community - they want to be there. But everyone is busy, so if you need support, speak up. We can’t expect others to always notice our pain.
Letting go. Not every change is mine to carry. Loosening my grip and releasing what isn’t mine has been a huge relief.
Change will always come, sometimes gently, sometimes with force. We don’t get to control its arrival, but we do get to choose how we meet it… with resistance or with a little more ease.
Tell me, are you feeling change differently in your 40’s and 50’s?
Libby x
Journal Prompts for Change
These are the prompts I’ve been using in my own journaling practice as I navigate change, and I’d love for you to try them too.
Let them meet you where you are, and see what unfolds.
1. What is changing in my life right now, and how do I truly feel about it?
Naming change with honesty allows space for both the excitement and the unease to coexist.
2. How has my relationship with change shifted as I’ve grown older?
Looking back helps you see not only what has changed, but also how you’ve changed in meeting it.
3. What fears or stories come up when I think about getting older?
Exploring these gently can loosen their hold and reveal the wisdom beneath them.
4. Who do I lean on when life feels heavy, and who leans on me?
Awareness of these exchanges reminds us that connection is both giving and receiving.
5. What am I carrying that isn’t truly mine to hold?
Letting go lightens the load and makes room for what is really meant for you.
6. How do I want to meet the next wave of change in my life?
Naming your intention shapes the way you step forward, even when the path feels uncertain.
If you’d like some support in settling before you write, click below for a 10 minutes meditation from my podcast that pairs beautifully with journaling x