Embracing Change and Adaptability
- Priscilla Schwartzman
- Jul 14
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 23
Because life flows more freely when we learn to move with it.
What You’ll Learn
Why adaptability supports emotional resilience and personal growth
How Gestalt therapy helps you navigate change in the present moment
A gentle mindset reframe to support transitions
The role of therapy in navigating identity shifts and uncertainty
A journal prompt for embracing the season you’re in
Introduction: Meeting Change with Presence, Not Perfection
Change can arrive gently, or all at once. Sometimes it begins as a whisper; other times, it shakes the foundations of what we thought was certain. No matter how it comes, change asks us to meet it with presence, not perfection. When we notice our responses in the moment - fear, hope, grief, growth - we create more space to move with change, not against it.
“Change is hardest at the beginning, messiest in the middle and best at the end.”
Robin Sharma
A Moment of Quiet Becoming
A butterfly rests on a yellow flower, its wings still and full of colour. What we see is a moment of beauty and calm. What we don’t see is the transformation that brought it here. Inside the cocoon, change began long before it could be seen. There was waiting, dissolving, and quiet becoming.
In nature, change unfolds long before it reveals itself. The same is true in us.
The Discomfort of Becoming
Change rarely arrives in tidy packages. It often begins with letting go, and that can feel like loss. A shift in identity. The end of a role. A slow realisation that something no longer fits. But if we stay with the process, something new starts to take form.
In Gestalt therapy, a present-focused approach, we gently explore what is happening now in the body, in awareness, in relationship. We’re not trying to analyse the past or predict the future. Instead, we notice what is emerging in this moment. This might include tension, resistance, or the impulse to hold on.
We pause and ask:
What am I sensing?
What feels unfinished?
What part of me is trying to protect something?
Letting go isn’t about pushing past discomfort. It’s about noticing what’s ready to shift and allowing space for that movement to unfold.
A Personal Note: How I’ve Learned to Meet Change
I used to fear change. Even now, when something shifts, there can be a moment where uncertainty rises. But I’ve learned to meet it differently.
Over time, through personal therapy, meditation and honest self-reflection, I’ve come to trust myself and life more. I can now sit with the discomfort and let it move through. I can recognise what I need, reach out for support, and reframe the experience in a way that’s real and steady.
Change is no longer something I need to brace against. It’s something I can move with, at my own pace, in my own time.
Embracing Change and Adaptability: A Gentle Reframe for Navigating Change
When you notice yourself feeling uncertain, resistant, or overwhelmed by change, pause and write down the following:
What is the change I’m facing?
Describe it clearly and simply.
What’s the story I’m telling myself about this change?
Be honest. It might sound like: “I won’t be able to handle this” or “Everything will fall apart.”
Is this story absolutely true?
Ask yourself what evidence supports it and what evidence challenges it.
What is a more balanced or kind perspective I could try instead?
For example, “This is hard, but I’ve adapted before” or “It’s okay not to have all the answers yet.”
Finish with this sentence:
“Even in uncertainty, I can still choose how I meet this moment.”
Let this practice help you soften rigid thoughts and invite self-trust while embracing change and adaptability, one small reframe at a time.
How Therapy Can Support You Through Change
Change often brings up more than we expect: emotional waves, excitment, anxiety, resistance, confusion, even grief. Therapy can help you slow down, listen to what’s emerging, and respond with clarity instead of reactivity. It offers space to process feelings, explore new perspectives, and build inner resilience.
Whether you're navigating a personal transition, shifting a pattern, or simply feeling overwhelmed by the unknown, therapy provides a grounded, supportive relationship to help you move through it with more self-trust.
And because online counselling is available anywhere in Australia, that support can meet you right where you are.
If this resonates with where you are right now, you're invited to explore online therapy with me. Learn more or book a free connection call at here.
Key Takeaways
Change is a process. Not something to be rushed or perfected
Gestalt therapy supports presence and awareness during transitions
Reframing your internal narrative can help soften resistance
Therapy can be a steady companion through uncertainty and growth
Online counselling offers flexible support wherever you are
FAQs: Embracing Change and Adaptability
Q: Can therapy help if I’m feeling stuck but nothing major has happened?
A: Yes. You don’t need a big life event to benefit from therapy. Feeling unsettled, stuck, or unsure about a shift (even a subtle one) is reason enough. Therapy can help you make sense of that feeling and support you in moving through it at your own pace.
Q: How does Gestalt therapy support change?
A: Gestalt therapy helps you notice what’s emerging in the present moment, including resistance or tension. This awareness creates space to move with change, rather than react against it.
Q: I find change overwhelming. What if I’m not ready to talk?
A: That’s completely okay. Therapy doesn’t require you to have the right words. Working with a registered counsellor like Priscilla can offer a calm and supportive space to gently explore what’s shifting. Even a small step toward support can make a meaningful difference.
Journal Prompt to Take Away
What is one thought, story, or role I’ve outgrown, and what might open up if I let it go?
Let this question land softly. You don’t need to answer it right away.
Continue the Journey
Learn more or book a free connection call at here.
If this reflection resonated, explore more themes check out my blog library.
Photo by Boris Smokrovic on Unsplash
