Slowing Down at the edge of change

This year has been a year of edges for me - endings, transitions, and beginnings.

It started with a long-awaited surgery, which I’d prepared for both mentally and physically over many months. Recovery turned out to be a kind of transition, and gave me time to reflect on the joy of the present moment and the possibilities that might lie ahead. Then came new beginnings: launching BroadBridge, stepping into fresh opportunities, and daring to imagine what the next chapter could look like. In many ways, 2024 has been about learning to stand at the edge of change and navigate it with an open mind. Less judgment. More curiosity. And a sense of hopefulness.

Last week, something surfaced for me during a coaching session. I’d gone into it with a clear purpose, knowing exactly what I wanted to get out of our conversation. I was ready to learn and ready to take action. But the coach noticed something I wasn’t aware of. They picked up on how my pace kept shifting - fast, then slow, then fast again. We paused to talk about what was happening. That moment of purposeful reflection helped me realise how easy it is to rush through the edge of change - trying to control the outcome rather than being present with what’s unfolding.

I made a conscious choice to slow down.

To let the moment be what it was, instead of trying to make it something else. I’ve been mulling over that experience ever since. It reminded me that navigating change isn’t about pushing through or fixing things. It’s about being with the uncertainty, the discomfort, and yes, sometimes even the beauty of the moment - even when it feels like there’s nothing beautiful about it.

Doing change vs. Being with change

Our first instinct when faced with change is often to focus on doing. We plan, problem-solve, and move forward - because standing still feels risky. But when we rush through the edge of change, we miss something important. We lose the chance to connect with what’s really happening, to notice what’s shifting inside us and around us.

Being with change is different. It’s not passive, but it’s also not about control. It’s about slowing down enough to notice. To feel. To choose your next step with intention, not just anxious momentum.

What Nature Teaches Us About Edges

In reflecting on all this, I keep coming back to nature. I think of a river meeting the sea. There’s no sudden, clean break. The river water slows down, spreads out, and gradually fuses with the ocean. It’s a transition, not a leap. And it takes time.

I’ve also been thinking about a caterpillar in its chrysalis, slowly transforming into a butterfly. The change doesn’t happen in an instant. There’s so much hidden, emergent work happening - yet from the outside, we only see one state and then the next, as if change was a simple flick of a switch.

Both processes remind me that edges of change are rarely binary. They are spaces of potential where multiple things are true at once - where optimism and fear coexist, where we let go and reach forward at the same time.

Slowing Down at the Edge

That coaching session was a gift because it reminded me to breathe. To slow down and notice. And it’s inspired me to put these reflections into words - not just as a reminder to myself but in case you find yourself navigating an edge of your own. If you’re in a moment of change, here are a couple of things to think about:

1.? Notice your pace. Are you rushing to control the outcome? Or are you giving yourself permission to sit with what’s unfolding? Sometimes, just recognising your pace is enough to shift it.

2.? Ask yourself what the edge is teaching you. Is there something in the discomfort or uncertainty that you need to see before you cross? Could there be something you’re not paying attention to that might serve you in your next step?

Crossing the edge isn’t about rushing through. It’s about being present enough to choose how you move forward.

The Beauty of the Edge

As I step into a new chapter with BroadBridge, I know there will be many more edges to cross. I also know they’ll be both beautiful and messy - because that’s what change is. It’s not neat, and it’s not always easy, but it’s where real growth happens. So, if you’re standing at the edge of something new, I hope these words give you permission to pause. To reflect. To be with the change, rather than just doing change.

You might be surprised at what you discover when you let yourself slow down and be with the change.