Finding Comfort in the Chaos

May 1, 2026 | 14 Iyar 5786

New beginnings don’t always happen the way we might expect. Life throws some curveballs, sometimes exciting, and sometimes unexpected. Inside and outside of the therapy room, I find myself thinking about transition and change often. Life is full of both, not to mention the many Jewish texts that integrate these themes in timely and meaningful ways. It actually starts at the very beginning:

Genesis 1:1-5 

“When god began to make heaven and earth - The earth being chaos and void, with darkness over the surface of the deep and a wind from god hovering over the water -

“God said," Let there be light.” And there was light.

 And god saw the light was good, and god separated between the light and between the darkness. God called the light day, and the darkness, he called night. And there was evening and there was morning, a first day.”

A transition we experience daily is introduced in the very first words of Torah. Sit with this text for a moment. Notice anything unique? 

The darkness came first. 

Often with change and transition, we may feel uncertainty, fear, and discomfort. A mix of stress and anxiety that can feel overwhelming and possibly lonely at times. To move through this transition takes time, and the road can often be bumpy. To feel settled on the other end may feel distantly foreign, and maybe even unreachable at times. 

Sounds like a whole lot of chaos and void, huh? 

Good thing God thought of light! 

Yes, working through periods of change and transition can certainly be a journey, but it doesn’t have to feel like you’re stuck in the darkness 24/7. We can discover ways to access light along the way. 

As a therapist, I often talk about the difference between our comfort, growth, and panic zones. Think of your comfort zone at the center. Ultimately, this circle is where you are most comfortable. The places, the people, and experiences you find familiar. We can feel content in our comfort zones. Most likely, change and transition isn’t happening when we’re here.

Your growth zone is the middle layer.  This is you, stepping outside of your comfort zone, ready to explore a new layer of experiences, build new relationships, develop new skills. Sometimes stepping into the growth experience is voluntary, and sometimes it may not be, exactly like the variety of change and transitions we may experience in life. This zone can have a combination of many emotions: happy and excited, and even a burst of anticipatory anxiety and worry. An imperfect recipe for growth.

The panic zone is the outer layer. You may access this place when you’ve stepped too far out of your comfort and growth zones. Here you may feel anxious, scared, or ready to flight your way back to that inner circle of comfort. This may be what change and transition feel like at the very worst. 

Think for a moment and consider, have you existed in any or all of these zone? How did they feel, and how did you manage the transition to and from each?

In life, we realistically will move through all of these zones and different times, depending on the cards we are dealt. What may feel like growth to some of us, could feel like panic to others. The key here is, what tools do we have in our toolbox to realize we have what it takes to navigate through the panic zone, if we find ourselves there? Or, are we present enough with ourselves to realize when we’ve made it to the growth zone, strengthening our resiliency and willingness to try new things. And finally, are we challenging ourselves to actually step out of the comfort zone, seeking out experiences to grow and change?

Whether this season feels like chaos and void, or a bright spring light, notice how you’re moving through expected or unexpected change and transition periods. Leaning on your people, practicing gratitude, and remembering to breathe can help you stay out of your panic zone, ensuring a successful growth experience as you navigate this season.

I’d love to hear your best practices for navigating change and transition! Share them with me by responding to this message. If you know someone who may benefit from this message, please help spread the wisdom by sharing it with them.

Wishing you all a peaceful transition into a new month and a restful Shabbat!

Ethically, 

Emily