When we’re grappling with a big decision our thoughts and feelings can go round and round, stuck in a loop that we can’t find a way to divert or direct.

It can feel exhausting, like we’re not getting anywhere, and yet… sometimes circling is an important part of our process.

In my own experience - and in coaching others - I find that we can often circle and explore the same topic or decisions over a number of sessions, days, weeks or months.

Especially if it’s a big one. One that takes us somewhere new or different in our life, work or relationships. One that impacts our lives or the people around us.

And that’s absolutely fine.

Our long-suffering palm tree is finally about to flower after years of ups and downs.

We bought it with high hopes and great expectations for how it would grow and what it would look like. Instead, it gradually wilted and browned and declined.

We couldn’t work it out. It was supposed to be a good one for our garden and everyone else’s looked amazing. Why wasn’t it living up to its potential? What was wrong with it? Had we bought a bad plant?

Turns out there was nothing wrong with the plant.

The last few weeks have been full of my favourite things - people and their career timelines.

I love collaborating with someone to look back and learn from their journey so far - to make sense of it and use the insights to shape the path ahead.

It’s a complete gift to be a part of the process. To see and hear someone’s story. To find the themes, the patterns, the ups and the downs. To spot the threads and create a compass to navigate forward with.

But what strikes me more and more is just how much there is to learn before we even start exploring the detail.

When we step into a larger space in our lives - through promotion, a life transition, a new direction - it often brings a lot more stuff with it.

More responsibilities, more scope, more things to manage and fit in, more people or meetings or learning or challenge.

So how do we make it all fit?

I love spring.

The cherry blossom is starting to come out in our road, and the clocks have changed.

I love the lighter evenings, the longer days, the warmth and the sunshine.

It’s a new season, the start of a new cycle, the opportunity to reflect and reset.

So what do I want it to be about?