The Grief of Change & The Beauty of Becoming
At the end of 2024, I took one of the biggest (and scariest) leaps of my life. I walked away from my corporate job to go all-in on my business. Yep, no more side hustle, no more safety net, just me, my vision, and a whole lot of trust.
Even though I knew in my soul that this was the right move, I wasn’t fully ready. Because let’s be real, are we ever really ready for massive change?
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on the many life transitions that have shaped my life - becoming a mum, navigating divorce, losing friendships, and shifting careers. Even in my younger years, moving schools, experiencing friendship dramas, and facing my first heartbreak carried a weight I didn’t fully understand. With every change, I was grieving, not just for what I had lost, but for the version of myself that no longer fit. At the time, I didn’t recognise it as grief, I only felt the emotional weight of the events, the ache of something lost. Looking back, I can see that each ending was also a beginning, gently reshaping me into the person I was becoming.
We expect grief when we lose a loved one, but what about the grief that comes with major life transitions? These shifts often bring excitement and fresh starts, but can also carry a quiet, unspoken sense of loss. It’s the silent mourning of who we were before our lives changed in ways we couldn’t have predicted. Our identity is ever-evolving, and keeping up with it can feel like we’re trying to catch up with a version of ourselves that no longer exists.
With every transition, a part of us shifts forever. It’s easy to hold onto who we used to be because she’s familiar, but what if we saw these moments not as endings, but as invitations to grow? Change can feel like loss, but it’s also an opportunity to step into the beauty of becoming.
So how do we grieve who we used to be while embracing the person we’re becoming? Here are a few things that have helped me:
Feel what you need to feel: Let yourself grieve, be unsure, and even be excited. All the emotions are valid.
Lean on your people: Big transitions are easier when you don’t have to navigate them alone. Call your bestie, find a mentor, join a community, or book in with a therapist.
Rediscover what lights you up: Explore what brings you joy in this new chapter. Try something new or reconnect with something you’ve always loved. It’s okay to feel joy even while processing grief.
Honour who you were: Write a letter to your past self, thanking her for getting you here. Acknowledge her strength, lessons, and growth.
Ground yourself in micro-moments of self-care: When life feels uncertain, small rituals keep you anchored. Five-minutes of movement, journalling, deep breathing, or even a hot shower can work wonders in keeping you sane.
Here are some powerful questions I’ve been sitting with lately. Maybe they’ll spark something in you too:
What excites me about this next phase?
What do I want this next version of me to embody?
What lessons from my past do I want to carry forward?
What am I ready to let go of?
How can I support myself through this transition with kindness and self-care?
If you’re in the middle of a big life transition, I want you to know this: you’re allowed to grieve what you’re leaving behind while still embracing what’s ahead. Grief and joy can coexist, and it’s in this space that true transformation happens.
For me, walking away from my corporate job and fully stepping into my purpose has been equal parts terrifying and exciting. But I’m here, showing up, navigating the unknown, and trusting the process, because that’s what growth requires. It asks us to shed old versions of ourselves, grieve what once was, and step into something new before we fully understand it. It’s the process of becoming who you were meant to be.
This is your invitation to honour where you are, embrace what’s unfolding, and trust that your next chapter will be your best yet.
