Learning to Trust in Change

At the time, I had no idea just how much my future self would come to rely on it.

First, during the hottest month of the year, the air conditioner in my car gave out. For months, I endured sweltering drives until I could finally replace it with a car that didn’t threaten me with heat stroke every time I stepped inside. Then, I found myself in a long season of waiting—waiting for my licensing exam, waiting for my wedding day, all while waiting for life to feel a little more settled. Oh, speaking of the wedding, less than three months before the big day, my venue fell through. Yes, THREE months. Suddenly, I was back at square one, starting the planning process all over again.

In the midst of my stints of waiting, my mind wanted to find something it could control and I became acutely aware of changes that were happening in my own body.

There’s a strange paradox about bodies: they are meant to change—they have to change—yet the world around us bombards us with messages telling us to fear, resist, or even reject these changes. These messages are loud, persistent, and seemingly everywhere. For those who’ve struggled with body image or disordered eating, they can feel relentless and exhausting to push away.

The experience of change as a whole has become one to fear; something that feels haunting even when it is the product of things going right.

For many, the body’s natural fluctuations can feel like a constant battle or even a sign of failure. But here’s the truth I often remind them (and myself): Our bodies will never be exactly where we want them to be. Why? Because the very idea of that does not exist. (as much as the world tries to tell us that is does!) A perfect body does not exist. And perfection has no ground in the reality of unique, dynamic bodies that needs to change in order to thrive.

In my work with clients in recovery, we talk a lot about patience. It sounds simple, but it’s hard—especially in a culture that idolizes instant gratification. (Seriously, how did we survive before Amazon Prime?)

Recovery work, though, is relationship work. And in any healthy relationship, there is no rush. My clients practice things like adding variety to their meals, listening to their hunger cues, and reducing over-exercising. These small, intentional actions are steps toward rebuilding a kinder, more trusting relationship with their bodies.

This process is about finding balance, listening, and trusting that the body can regulate itself—this takes time. It’s not just about being patient with the changes, it’s about being patient with the discomfort we often feel when things don’t happen in the time frame or way that we want them to. There’s no Amazon Prime for recovery, and as it turns out, we were probably better off without it anyway.

This brings me to my word for 2025: trust.

Trust in the body. Trust in the process. Trust in the moments of discomfort that eventually lead to growth.

As I reflect on what this word means for me, I’d like to invite you to reflect alongside me. Consider these questions:

• How do I feel in my body at this moment?
• Do I trust my body? If not, what experiences have shaped that mistrust
• What would it take for me to trust my body more fully?
• What part of my body could use some extra care today?

As we step into this new year, let’s practice patience, cultivate trust, and remind ourselves that our bodies are not the enemy—they’re our partners in this journey.

Here’s to growth, change, and the power of showing up for ourselves—one moment at a time.

Love, 

Josie