Episode 6

Navigating Life Transitions: Why Change Is Hard Even When It's Good

Published on: 30th December, 2025

Change is constant. And yet, every time it happens, it feels destabilizing.

Even good changes—getting married, having a baby, landing your dream job, moving to a new city—come with grief and uncertainty. Because change requires letting go. And most of us are terrible at letting go.


In this episode, we get real about why life transitions feel so hard, what makes the in-between so uncomfortable, and how to navigate change without losing yourself in the process.


WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

- Why change feels destabilizing even when it's objectively positive

- The 4 reasons we resist change (uncertainty, identity shifts, attachment, avoidance)

- Why your brain treats change as a threat—even when it's opportunity

- The hidden truth: every transition includes loss

- How to grieve what you're losing while moving toward what's next

- Why positive changes (marriage, parenthood, dream jobs) still come with grief

- The concept of "loss aversion" and why losing feels bigger than gaining

- How to navigate the in-between without rushing to certainty

- What transitions invite you toward (not toxic positivity—agency)

- Why you don't have to have it all figured out

- How to hold both grief and growth simultaneously


This isn't about "embracing change" or finding silver linings. It's about understanding what's actually happening when your life shifts—and giving yourself permission to feel all of it.


If you're in the middle of a transition and feeling unmoored, uncertain, or like you've lost yourself this episode will help you make sense of what you're experiencing.


Change doesn't let you stay comfortable. And that's exactly the point.


SUBMIT YOUR STORY OR QUESTION:

Are you navigating a life transition? Share your story, questions, or reflections. Send written letters or voice messages to letters@alottogrowtrough.com or visit ALotToGrowThrough.com


CONNECT WITH A LOT TO GROW THROUGH:

Website: ALotToGrowThrough.com


RATE & REVIEW:

If this episode helped you understand what you're going through during transition, please leave a rating and review. It helps others navigating change find their way here.


CONTENT ADVISORY: This podcast discusses life transitions, loss, grief, uncertainty, and emotional challenges. Please practice self-care while listening.


A Lot To Grow Through is a podcast about real healing, real conversations, and no filter. Hosted by Artis Desjardins, this is a space for thoughtful conversations on healing, growth, and the art of becoming. Here, you'll understand you have to grow through it, not just go through it.

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About the Podcast

A Lot To Grow Through
Real healing. Real conversations. No filter.
Mental wellness isn't a destination. It's a sophisticated, ongoing practice of understanding ourselves; our patterns, our pain, our potential.

A Lot To Grow Through returns after four years as a space for nuanced conversations about the inner work that transforms us. Hosted by Artis Desjardins, a mental health advocate committed to elevating the discourse around healing and growth, ALTGT is designed for listeners who value depth, intelligence, and intentionality.

Each week, you'll find:

Solo Reflections - Artis explores frameworks, philosophies, and practices that inform meaningful growth, offering perspective shaped by years of personal healing work and extensive study of psychological approaches.

In-Depth Conversations - Dialogues with therapists, researchers, authors, and individuals whose experiences offer genuine insight. These aren't surface-level interviews—they're substantial explorations of complex topics.

Listener Dialogues - Your questions, reflections, and experiences become part of our shared exploration, creating space for collective wisdom and meaningful exchange.

ALTGT approaches mental wellness with the depth it deserves. We don't oversimplify. We don't offer quick fixes. We don't reduce the healing journey to soundbites or platitudes.

Instead, we create space for honest discourse. We honor nuance. We value substance over sentiment, understanding over uplift, depth over speed.

This podcast is for people who read deeply, think critically, and approach their healing with both heart and mind. For those who understand that growth is complex, transformation takes time, and the most profound changes often happen quietly.

If you're seeking meaningful conversations about what it means to heal, to grow, and to become you're in the right place.

New episodes weekly. Subscribe for thoughtful listening.

About your host

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Artis Desjardins