New Year Wisdom from the Wood Snake: Navigating Change, Growth, and Transition

As we approach the Lunar New Year, the "Year of the Wood Snake," I find myself reflecting on the wisdom the Snake symbolizes—intuition, insight, and transformation. This time last year, my life felt far from wise or orderly. In fact, it felt like everything was unraveling. But as the year progressed, I found that this very disruption became the foundation for personal growth and clarity. As I move forward into 2025, I want to share what I’ve learned about change and transition, and how these wise lessons can guide us all in the coming year.

At the start of 2024, I was hit by what author, speaker, and writer Bruce Feiler calls “lifequake." It wasn’t just one challenge, but a series of them—loss, change, and unexpected disruptions—everything seemed to hit at once. My initial response? A desire to control chaos. I tried to reorganize my life like I would a cluttered desk, but I got stuck. And I realized that before I could build something new, I first needed to make room by letting go.

A wise Zen master once poured tea for a visitor and didn’t stop when the cup overflowed. The guest, frustrated, shouted, "Can’t you see the cup is full?" The master replied, "You are like this cup, so full that there’s no room for anything new. Come back when you’re empty."

Like the guest in the story, I was overflowing with commitments, emotions, and unfinished business, but I kept adding more. I had to let go before I could embrace anything new, and I began by creating space in my life to reset and realign my priorities. This meant addressing the underlying clutter—not just physical, but emotional and mental as well.

Transitions, as defined by scholars like Arnold van Gennep and William Bridges, often unfold in stages: "Endings," "The Neutral Zone," and "New Beginnings." Bruce Feiler’s research has shown that these stages are not linear, and we often cycle through them. The purpose of transition is simple: to move from being stuck to unstuck.

Stage 1: The Long Goodbye
This is the phase where we have to let go —of old habits, past relationships, or beliefs that no longer serve us. It’s hard, but necessary for growth. This phase requires acknowledging the loss and finding new meaning in it.

Stage 2: The Messy Middle
Here, we experience discomfort and uncertainty as we navigate through change. It’s easy to feel like we’re going backwards, but embracing this messiness is a critical part of the journey. It’s in this phase that we grow the most.

Stage 3: New Beginnings
In this phase, we shed old ways of being and step into a new version of ourselves. When we develop the skills of transition, we become enablers of change. We allow the new to emerge naturally and embrace new possibilities previously unseen. With each new beginning comes the opportunity for growth, reinvention, and self-discovery.

As I reflect on my 2024 journey through transition, I realize the power of letting go. It wasn’t just about decluttering my space, but about releasing old habits, limiting beliefs, and outgrown values. In 2025, I’m embracing a simpler, more focused approach. I’m ready for a year of wisdom and intuitive energy—guided by the 'Wood Snake' and the lessons learned from my own journey. I wish the same for you in the year ahead.  Xīn Nián Kuài Lè!

 ©Lesia Stone, Coaching Transition January 17, 2025

Lesia Stone is a Transition Mindset Coach specializing in personal growth through transitions. With a passion for helping people navigate change, she empowers clients to find clarity, purpose, and resilience.