Ask Elizabeth: How Do I Navigate Change Without Losing Myself?

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino
Sep 23
2 min read

Dear Elizabeth,

Change seems to be everywhere in my life right now — in work, relationships, and even in my own sense of who I am. Some days it feels exciting, but most of the time it feels overwhelming. I don’t want to get lost in the chaos, but I also don’t want to resist change when I know it’s inevitable. How can I navigate change with more peace and confidence?

Sincerely,

Feeling Overwhelmed by Change

Dear Feeling Overwhelmed by Change,

You’re not alone — most of life is navigating change. Change is one of the only constants we have, and yet it can feel deeply unsettling. The truth is, change always invites us to realign. It’s less about controlling what’s happening outside of us and more about how we respond from within.

Here are a few tools you can begin practicing today:

1️⃣ Pause Before You React

Instead of rushing to fix or resist what’s happening, give yourself the gift of a pause. Even three deep breaths can help you respond from clarity rather than fear.

2️⃣ Define What Matters Most

Ask yourself: What are my non-negotiables? When you’re clear on your values, you can adapt to change without losing yourself.

3️⃣ Reframe Fear as Curiosity

It’s natural to feel afraid when the future is uncertain. Try shifting that fear into curiosity: What might this change make possible for me?

4️⃣ Remember That Small Steps Count

You don’t need to leap into your new chapter all at once. Every small, steady step forward is progress.

In The Change Guidebook, I share a process I call the Ten Points of Change — practical, heart-centered tools to help you embrace transformation rather than fear it.

One of my favorites is learning to see change as an ally instead of an enemy. When you treat change as a teacher, it stops being something happening “to you” and becomes something happening “for you.”

You’re already stronger than you realize. Trust that you have what it takes to navigate change, one breath, one choice, and one step at a time.

With encouragement,

Elizabeth