Embracing Unexpected Change: How Life’s Disruptions Can Become Your Greatest Gift

Embracing Unexpected Change: How Life’s Disruptions Can Become Your Greatest Gift

One of the biggest lessons that COVID-19 taught us is this: change is inevitable—and often out of our control. Whether it was lockdowns, job loss, or general uncertainty, the world was forced into a collective shift. For many, it brought anxiety and panic. But for others, it became a catalyst for self-reflection, insight, and transformation.

Let’s face it—embracing unexpected change isn’t something most of us are taught. Change is messy. It threatens our routines, our comfort zones, and even our sense of identity. While some thrive in unpredictability, most people prefer the known, even when the known isn’t serving them well. Why? Because it’s safe. Familiar. Low-risk.

Often, our routines are coping mechanisms born from past pain or trauma. They help us feel secure. So naturally, we resist anything that threatens that delicate equilibrium. As Carl Jung famously said, “What you resist, persists.” That resistance can keep us stuck far longer than necessary.

Take it from me—I’ve lived it.

Years ago, in my former career as a lawyer, I found myself stuck in a job that drained the life out of me. I was overwhelmed, unsupported, and far from my passion. I cried at my desk and even in restaurants with friends. I knew deep down I needed to leave, but fear held me back. Fear of the unknown. Fear of no paycheck. So I waited… until the decision was made for me. I lost my job.

In the moment, I was terrified. But something inside whispered that it would all be okay. Losing that job ended up being the greatest gift. It led me to a new role where I thrived in the very area of law I loved most. That boulder blocking my path? It was removed for me. And thank goodness it was.

Embracing unexpected change means trusting that there’s something greater waiting on the other side of discomfort. When we resist, we deny ourselves the opportunity to grow, heal, and align with what truly serves us.

We often fear change because we imagine only negative outcomes. But what if the outcome is even better than we could have imagined? What if the “worst thing” that happens to us becomes the very thing that sets us free?

As a shamanic healer, I’ve come to see that no experience is wasted. Every moment—whether joyful or painful—has wisdom to offer. Every decision is the right one based on who we are in that moment. And every disruption is a call to awaken to something new.

So next time you’re faced with a choice—or life makes a choice for you—pause. Breathe. Trust that there’s something meaningful unfolding. You’re not being punished; you’re being redirected.

Here’s an image I like to use: Picture a river. When water meets a pebble, it flows right over it. When it meets a boulder, it doesn’t crash—it simply finds a new way around. That’s what we’re being asked to do. Flow around the boulders in our lives. Let go of rigidity. Adapt. Grow.

Because when you begin embracing unexpected change, you realise:
Change isn’t the enemy.
It’s the invitation.
And it might just be your greatest gift.