A Lesson in Trusting What’s Next

Sometimes, it’s not the change that feels hard — it’s the loss of what we’ve grown accustomed to. The people, routines, and rhythms that make us feel grounded. But what happens when the familiar fades and you're asked to flow into something brand new?

Let me take you on a journey that taught me how to release comfort and trust the unfamiliar.

What Familiarity Feels Like

When I think of the word familiar, I picture everything that feels close, simple, safe — what I naturally vibe with (as my kids say). Familiarity screams comfort to me:

• Friends who know your heart

• Family traditions

• Your favorite grocery store

• That well-worn hoodie or if you're like me, that stretched-out hole-filled sweater that I wouldn't part ways with because my sister gave it to me

• And especially… a predictable routine

By June 2024, I realized how much I had clung to those familiar comforts and how deeply change would test me.

A Season That Felt Just Right

For three years, I was blessed to do what I loved. I was able to be home with my children, support other children, and grow deeper in my homeschooling journey. Every day wasn’t perfect, but every week was fulfilling. By year two, everything felt second nature. I had grown confident in my rhythm. Even the bumps in the road didn’t faze me — I knew how to navigate them because they were familiar. I had found my flow. I didn’t know that this beautiful season was preparing to shift, and I wasn’t ready.

 When Familiar Ends and Uncertainty Creeps In

At the end of year three, I received word that my current role — my comfort zone — was closing. I smiled and said, “It’s all good,” but my heart whispered otherwise.

That summer, it started to sink in: The structure I relied on… the role I loved… it was changing. And I had no idea what would come next. I felt everything: confused, sad, nervous, and underwhelmed. I kept trying to brush it off, but the feelings lingered.

Journaling Through the Unfamiliar

One day, I picked up my journal and began to write. Not with a plan — just honesty. Raw thoughts. Unfiltered emotion. Tears fell on the pages as I poured out what I hadn’t said out loud.

Days later, I read it back and saw the truth clearly: I wasn’t just afraid of the unknown — I was grieving the familiar. That realization was powerful.

The Lesson: Flowing in the Unfamiliar

I had wrapped so much of my peace in what I recognized that I didn’t leave room for the new thing to come in. I thought I was being flexible, but deep down, I had resisted anything that didn’t feel “safe.”

But here’s what I learned:

Familiarity is comfortable, but growth happens in the unfamiliar. When we let go of what we used to know, we make space for what we’re meant to become.

Something to Consider

What old routine, role, or rhythm are you holding onto because it feels safe? What might happen if you stop resisting and start flowing with what’s ahead?

The unfamiliar doesn’t mean unworthy. It may just be the door to your next beautiful season.