What is “Transformation Fatigue”?

Recently, my best friend Angela and I were chatting about life as we often do.

And we both noticed something in ourselves as well as each other: we knew change was coming in 2023, and just the idea felt exhausting—even frustrating.

This isn’t our usual reaction.

The pair of us have been friends since 1999. We have seen and supported each other through enormous change, both the tumultuous kind and the joyous kind. We know each other to be courageous, wise, and enormously adaptable.

We usually greet change with big smiles and open arms, and at that moment, we were both side-eyeing the word “transformation” and asking, “What do you want from me NOW?” 

I started thinking of this as “Transformation Fatigue,” a term I’ve now added to the Shelbish Glossary.

As far as creative lineage for this idea goes, I want to point out: I’ve adapted this from “compassion fatigue.” Seven years ago, while I was helping out with multiple family crises, my long-time doctor patiently listened to my distress. Then she explained that among doctors, nurses, and other helpers, an individual can develop “compassion fatigue,” especially after a disaster where their expertise and effort was needed. It’s a specific kind of burn-out: you’ve given as much as you can possibly give to other people’s care, and it’s time to invest time and energy into your own renewal.

Transformation fatigue is similar—except sometimes no one else is involved. Instead, you’ve been adapting and changing at full tilt, and for a while, you’re absolutely fine. Then you have a moment where enough is enough, and when faced with one more change, you think, “Ugh. More?” 

I’m sharing this now, because I don’t believe that Angela and I are alone in our transformation fatigue.

As a planet, we have all seen more change and turmoil in the past few years than some of our ancestors saw in their entire lives.

It’s natural to be tired—even frustrated—in the face of it.  

With that in mind, I’ve started to address my own transformation fatigue in a few ways. I invite you to join me in any and all of them, but here’s a really relevant one:

Here on this website, on the newsletter, and on social media, I will be focusing on a series called,

“Tending Transformation Fatigue.”

I’ll be sharing many of the ways I clear space for more transformation, specifically when I have already been deep in change. I have an outline, but I’m not sure how long the series will last. Instead, it’ll take as long as it takes.

I intend this series to be a resource that can help you whenever you need it.  

Maybe you currently feel too exhausted by the change that has already happened to consider any more.

Maybe not.

Regardless, I encourage you to save the newsletter emails and/or bookmark the website. As a globe, it looks like we’re going to be experiencing a lot more change, especially with Pluto changing signs.

So, all of us will likely need to tend our transformation fatigue sometime this year. I would love for you to know exactly how to access this resource when you need it, and I’ll be doing this process right alongside you.