Trusting the Process of Change: A Reflection on Growth, Uncertainty, and Becoming

Change is one of the few constants in life—yet it’s something many of us instinctively resist. Even when we know something isn’t working, the idea of stepping into the unknown can feel overwhelming, vulnerable, or even threatening. As a therapist, I’ve sat with many people who are in the in-between: no longer where they once were, but not yet where they hope to be.

This in-between space can feel uncomfortable. It may be marked by confusion, grief, uncertainty, or even fear. But it’s also a space of transformation—a necessary passage in the journey of becoming.

The Psychology of Change

From a clinical perspective, change is a process that can be mapped. James Prochaska and Carlo DiClemente’s Transtheoretical Model of Change outlines stages: precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and sometimes relapse. These stages remind us that change is not linear—it’s a cycle. We might revisit the same stage multiple times before sustainable growth takes root.

Understanding this cycle can bring self-compassion. You’re not “backsliding” if you revisit old patterns—you’re simply human, navigating the complexity of rewiring habits, identities, and relationships.

Why Change Feels So Hard

Our brains are wired for safety and predictability. The unknown can trigger the amygdala, the brain’s threat detection system, leading to fight, flight, or freeze responses. In therapy, we often work on helping the nervous system find regulation in the midst of this perceived danger—through grounding techniques, mindfulness, EMDR, or somatic awareness.

On top of that, change may activate old wounds: fear of failure, not being good enough, or fear of abandonment. That’s why growth is not just behavioral—it’s emotional and relational, too.

If You’re Not Ready to Change

Sometimes we’re simply not ready to change—and that’s okay. Readiness can’t be forced. It often arrives slowly, through repeated experiences of safety, reflection, and support. Therapy can be helpful even if you don’t feel ready to make big shifts. Sometimes the work begins with naming the stuckness, exploring the resistance, or simply sitting with the ambivalence. There is wisdom in your hesitation. Often, it’s there to protect something tender. You don’t have to rush. Insight, readiness, and movement will come—on your own timeline.

The Role of Therapy in Navigating Change

Therapy offers a supportive, nonjudgmental space to sit with the uncertainty that change brings. In the therapeutic process, we don’t rush to solutions—we stay curious. We listen to the body, the emotions, and the deeper stories we’ve carried about who we are and who we’re allowed to become.

For many clients, therapy becomes the first place where it’s safe to say, “I don’t know who I am anymore,” or “Something needs to change, but I don’t know where to start.” That openness—while vulnerable—is the doorway to transformation.

Art Therapy: A Creative Pathway to Becoming

Art therapy can be especially powerful during times of change. When words feel hard to access—or when we’re trying to process something deeper than logic—creative expression gives form to what lives within us.

In art therapy, clients explore transformation not just by talking about it, but by creating through it.
They might collage the parts of self that are emerging.
They might paint the emotions that don’t yet have names.
They might visually map the inner tension between letting go and holding on.

The creative process helps bypass the inner critic and tap into a more intuitive, embodied kind of knowing. It also externalizes internal experiences, allowing for new insight, perspective, and integration.

Art therapy doesn’t demand that you have all the answers. It simply asks that you show up with curiosity and a willingness to explore.

Growth Happens in the Small Steps

Often, transformation doesn’t feel dramatic. It might look like:

• Saying no when you’re used to people-pleasing

• Naming a feeling out loud instead of shutting down

• Taking a deep breath before reacting

• Choosing rest instead of pushing through

• Asking for help

These may seem small—but they are revolutionary acts of healing, especially for those who have experienced trauma, neglect, or burnout.

Affirmation as Reorientation

In moments of fear or uncertainty, anchoring yourself with a compassionate affirmation can be grounding. Words like:

“I trust the process of change, knowing that every step forward is a part of my growth and becoming.”

This affirmation doesn’t ask you to pretend everything is fine. It simply invites trust: in your body’s wisdom, in your resilience, and in the unseen unfolding that growth often requires.

Reflection Questions

• What does “change” feel like in my body right now?

• Where in my life am I being invited to grow?

• How has therapy—or creative expression—helped me move through transition?

Final Thoughts

Transformation isn’t a moment—it’s a practice. A slow unfolding. A quiet becoming. And every small, intentional choice you make along the way matters.

If you’re in the middle of change, take heart. You are not alone. Growth may not always feel good, but it is often good for us.

Trust the process. You are becoming.