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Mary Jantsch's avatar

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What season of work are you in? Are you clearly in one season, or somewhere between two?

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Maria Carolina S. A.'s avatar

I got a mix of spring and fall, and wow, that seemed to describe what I've been feeling these past few months! I'm living this weird moment of growing disconnection from the path I've been on for the past few years, and I'm also moments away from a big professional change, which I have no idea if it will satisfy me or if it will work out. Thanks for sharing!

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Jovana Durovic's avatar

Last 2 years I was in Fall and now, Winter has officially come 😅 It feels true and right to be there for my body, however, my mind is having a different experience.

P.S. I love your framework and the quote around circles. The older I get, the more I'm realising that life is not linear, and I wouldn't even say that it's circular - it feels more like a (hopefully) upward spiral 🌀You come to the same spot and you recognize it for the "first time" because your viewpoint is different.

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John Jantsch's avatar

For some reason I mostly find myself in spring. Always. I think birth and generation and the sound of water running under the ground has always been my happy place.

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Agathe Martinot's avatar

Summer! Your description is on point - managing energy level and prioritizing are my main issues now.

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Big knit sweater's avatar

Fall is definitely resonating with me. The desire to fix has always been an easy way to deal with the discomfort, but I’m trying to sit in it more and understand it. I like how this framework takes into account the ebb and flow of life.

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Mary Jantsch's avatar

Thanks for sharing this! And, I can very much relate to the urge to fix things rather than sit with them.

Curious if there’s been anything surprising or useful that’s come from sitting with the discomfort or uncertainty lately?

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Nancy Connell's avatar

Deep in Fall and feeling it! It is equally sucky and exciting 😅

This is a great analogy and the post comes at a time when I’ve been asking myself this question! Really loving what you’re sharing, Mary!

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Mary Jantsch's avatar

Totally! Fall is a bit like cleaning out a closet. It is a chore I put off, but I often find forgotten gems among the old junk. Sucky and exciting is a perfect description. 😂

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Roseanne Stansbury's avatar

Loved the analogy - and I found myself in Fall (responding to where I was when I was at my former employer, Spring being second...).

Truth is - the REAL season I'm in is my crops and farm were all destroyed by a catastrophic 100 year flood. And I'm an older farmer - just trying to take it all in and figure out how to move forward.

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Mary Jantsch's avatar

Thanks for sharing this, Roseanne. I appreciate that you’ve carried on the metaphor and opened up a conversation about moments that are beyond seasons. Not everything fits neatly into the 4 seasons, just like a 100-year flood. At the same time, catastrophic events can set the stage for renewal. But I don't want to diminish how hard the in-between—that slow, uncertain stretch of not knowing what will grow back—can be.

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Roseanne Stansbury's avatar

They most absolutely can!!! All part of the journey - which is rarely linear! :-)

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Robin's avatar

I'm definitely sitting on the cusp of Winter - Spring. Though I wonder how much my Spring answers are WANTING to feel that stirring and possibility. My Winter looked like major burnout, so it can be confusing to know how much is feeling better versus actually feeling full and whole and ready.

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Mary Jantsch's avatar

I feel that, Robin. I think I’m just now settling into Spring too, but I had a few false Springs while I was still in Winter. I’m noticing how easy it is to slip into old patterns when that stirring shows up, especially around hyperfocus.

Is there anything that’s been helping you gauge your capacity as you ease out of Winter?

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Slow Ink Society's avatar

interesting concept, it's the first time I hear something like this. Def helps to put things in perspective if we can say that we are in the fall or on the winter season

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Mary Jantsch's avatar

Yeah! I've found having the shorthand of seasons can help clarify a sometimes abstract explanation of why you feel off but can’t explain it. It also, hopefully, creates distance between the experience and your identity when you are first exploring it!

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Slow Ink Society's avatar

yes indeed and it gives hope too. because we know after the winter, the spring always comes around. helps a lot to have a word to describe these times. really interesting concepts!

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