Square Four of the Change Cycle

Photo by Todd DeSantis on Unsplash

We’ve been through squares one, two, and three of Martha Beck’s cycle of change. We’re finally to the place we’ve all been waiting for - square four! (You can read prior posts to catch up on the other three squares!).

Square four, which Martha Beck calls the promised land, is where life feels more settled. Our new identities are more fully formed, and they have some staying power. Life may not be perfect, and we may be making some tweaks along the way, but overall this is the phase where we feel settled into ourselves and where life feels pretty damn good.

When it comes to change, square four usually requires less of us than the other three phases. If you’re in square four right now, here are things to keep in mind:

• Enjoy! Savor the good things, and focus on gratitude.

• Make small improvements that make life feel a little more pleasurable and joyful.

• Expect another change (because another one is most certainly on the way).

Martha Beck’s mantra for square four? Everything is changing, and that’s okay.

If you’re in square four, relax and enjoy. Change is inevitable, but you’ve made it through, and you can rely on what you know to get you through when change comes knocking again. Remember, our safety and security comes not from avoiding change but in trusting that we can handle it. 

And that’s a wrap, my friends! I hope this series has given you a better understanding of what to expect and how to better support yourself when change comes your way.

Wherever you find yourself sitting with change, I hope you know that you can trust yourself. I hope you’ll remember that you aren’t doing change wrong, even when you feel lost and overwhelmed. If you have any questions or would like more support, please reach out to me here - I’d love to connect with you.

Change can be hard, but you’ve got this.