And while it’s naturally been tender, with real waves of fear, grief, sadness, and longing … it’s also been one of my gentlest transitions. And I’ve navigated many!
So, I wanted to share the acts of self-attunement that are helping me stay steady, open, curious, and connected to myself right now.
Some are simple, some are playful, some are grounding.
All of them translate beyond breakups and into any season of identity shift—like an empty nest, a relocation, a career change, peri/menopause, or the disorientation of becoming someone new in midlife.
If you’re navigating a transition—whether you are just stepping in, deep in the mystery, or creating your next chapter with authentic purpose—these are a few things helping me and I hope something here helps you too.
Being Seen
It’s been vulnerable AF but also deeply transformative to publicize my conscious uncoupling. To let my friends, family, clients, and community witness me in this tender transition has been humbling and also healing. What a gift it is to be held, loved, and seen. I’m forever reminded that we don’t have to move through life transitions alone—nor should we.
Emotional Release
One of my well-known traits is feeling it all. I’ve been journaling, allowing my tears, my fears, and giving space for my grief to come up and through me. I always feel better after.
Reclaiming Space
I’ve been using palo santo to clear the energy in my home and release anything stuck or not mine. It’s hard to name the intangible, but the smoke and the intention have helped me feel more at ease.
Shake it Out
I recently bought a fabulous, ginormous mirror, and let’s just say I’ve been having a blast turning up music, wiggling, shaking, and dancing it out in front of it. I know in my bones that movement helps me get out of my head and into my body.
New Things
I’m doing things I’ve never done before, like painting my nails fuchsia, partner dancing, life-ing without coffee, and hanging art on the wall myself instead of having it done for me. These unfamiliar things feel like I’m beginning to meet a new version of myself in my next chapter—even if it’s all still mysterious.
Nervous System Reset
Cold-ish water (16–18°C / 61–64°F) early-morning swims in the Sado River in Setubal Portugal, with community is where it’s at for me! It’s a total pattern interrupt that brings me joy and ecstasy. Pic below.
On Purpose
I’m loving coaching women in transition—both privately and in my group, The Outgrown Identity Club. These women are incredible, and I am deeply touched to move through my own transition alongside them. I’m also super lit up to be working on a new project: an interview series called Trusting the Mystery: Conversations with midlife women on navigating life’s most meaningful (& terrifying) transitions, launching this autumn. Simply put, it feels good to be doing meaningful work.
Are you in a transition too? What’s helping you in your season of change?
I’d love to hear from you. You can reply here and let me know.
And if you are in a transition and sense that having a coach would help you navigate the fear, uncertainty, and mystery of this season—and vision and create your next chapter—I am here. You are welcome to send me a message if you’d like to explore whether my transition coaching support is the right next step for you.