Written by Jody Cecil, our Licensed Professional Counselor
As we enjoy longer days and more sunshine, it seems like the season of spring has been showing off around here, hasn’t it? I love time outdoors any time of the year, but there’s something magical about hiking on a warm spring day. So many vibrant colors and new growth. We also celebrate the promise of new beginnings as humans during this season. Spring offers us a chance to begin again. Of course, if you’re anything like me, you may also be afraid of that fresh start. The beginning may feel like stepping off a cliff into the unknown.
Change results in a variety of emotions, including fear. Graduation ceremonies continue as our high school students celebrate a major milestone, and while most of the graduating seniors will tell you they can’t wait to be done, the reality is that those same students are experiencing a multitude of emotions. In a recent blog post, I wrote about the paradox of new beginnings (Graduation: A Heartfelt Goodbye). It’s normal to celebrate and grieve simultaneously, just as it’s valid to experience fear when facing change. Fear bubbles up, even when we actively choose to go in a new direction.
The ability to embrace two opposing thoughts, or in this case emotions, is an actual skill within Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy that focuses on helping individuals manage their emotions, improve their relationships, and make more effective decisions. (I wrote about the skill of dialectical thinking in my blog in October, 2024, The Power of Both/And). DBT combines strategies like mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness to promote a balanced and nuanced way of thinking. The skills within DBT are practical and can be applied to everyday life.
When experiencing various reactions to change, another helpful skill is self-validation. This coping strategy involves recognizing and accepting your own thoughts, feelings, and experiences without judgment. It means acknowledging your emotions and experiences as valid and real, even if they are difficult or uncomfortable. When it comes to change, it can be easy for us to dismiss our own feelings of fear or grief. After all, aren’t we supposed to be excited? Validating our own feelings can help to lower their intensity.
Whatever changes you face today, my hope is that you embrace the experience knowing you are not alone and can develop new skills to help you cope with the challenges that arise. If you’re interested in learning more about DBT, reach out to Jody Cecil, our licensed professional counselor at the Flourish Center. You can contact her through her website at Taking Root Counseling.
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