Permission to Flourish - Emotional Growth with lessons from Spring
There’s a moment each year when you notice it — the tree outside your window buds into soft green, the light lingers a little longer in the evening, the scent of damp earth promises change. Spring doesn’t arrive with a shout; it whispers. And yet, in those quiet shifts, a transformation is happening.
Last week, we crossed the threshold of Beltane — the ancient Celtic festival that marks the halfway point between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. A celebration of light, fertility, and life force, Beltane is the season of becoming. It invites us to honour passion, growth, connection, and the flourishing of what has been forming in the dark.
I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately — how nature doesn’t rush, doesn’t overthink, and certainly doesn’t wait to be perfect before it flourishes. And yet, for so many women I coach, there’s a deep-rooted belief that they must be more ready, more confident, more polished before they take the next step.
What if we took our cues from spring instead? From Beltane — that joyful celebration of what’s coming to life?
This blog is an invitation — to trust your inner season, to honour the emotional work happening beneath the surface, and most of all, to give yourself permission to flourish. Not when you're perfect. Not when you're certain. But now.
The Silent Work Before the Flourish
Before the daffodils opened, before the blossom spilled its soft petals across the pavement, something invisible was already happening. Roots were anchoring deeper into the soil. Trees, bare and brittle in winter, were gathering energy. The work of flourishing often begins long before we see it.
Emotional growth is much the same.
Often, the most profound shifts take place quietly — in a conversation that lingers, a realisation during a walk, a choice to say no, a moment of stillness. These don’t look like transformation from the outside. But they are signs of your roots strengthening.
In coaching, I often see women dismiss their own growth because it isn’t immediately visible. Just last week, a client said, “I haven’t done anything yet,” when actually, she had made internal shifts that will change how they show up in their work, their relationships, their leadership.
Just because you can’t see the full flourish yet doesn’t mean the work isn’t being done.
Trust the roots. Acknowledge where you are and what you need right now.
The Myth of Readiness
One of the most common beliefs I hear — and have experienced myself — is “I’m not ready yet.”
But what does "ready" actually mean? For many women, it becomes a moving target. We want to be more confident, more certain, more qualified. We think we need to feel completely in control before we apply for that job, launch that project, speak up in that meeting, or share that idea we’ve been quietly nurturing.
But growth doesn’t wait for perfection.
No tree waits until it’s “ready enough” to bud. It responds to its inner rhythm, to just-good-enough conditions. It flourishes into the unknown, exposed and tender, trusting the process.
We don’t grow because we’re ready. We grow because we move. Confidence is a result of taking action — not a prerequisite.
So what might that look like in real life?
You don’t need to wait until you’re certain. You just need to say yes to now.
Here are some ideas…
Trying something new — a small change in routine, a fresh way of thinking, or simply doing one thing differently.
Taking a small step - You don’t need a big plan. Sometimes flourishing starts with just one small, brave step.
Giving yourself space - Flourishing might mean giving yourself space to rest, reflect, or simply breathe — without needing to fix or achieve.
Reconnecting with yourself - Perhaps it’s time to gently turn inward and reconnect with what matters most to you.
Letting something go - Sometimes the most powerful growth begins when we let go — of pressure, perfection, or something that no longer fits.
Emotional Seasons and Self-Compassion
Nature doesn’t flourish all the time. And neither do we.
We each move through emotional seasons — and learning to recognise and respect them is a key part of emotional wellbeing.
Spring: Renewal, new energy, hope returning.
Summer: Action, expression, full engagement.
Autumn: Letting go, reassessing, turning inward.
Winter: Rest, reflection, healing.
Many of us try to live in an endless summer — productive, visible, outward-facing. But just as the earth needs time to rest, we need our emotional winters. We need to reflect, process, and allow stillness.
Self-compassion is knowing which season you're in and allowing it — rather than forcing a different one.
So I invite you to pause and ask: What emotional season am I in right now? What does it need from me?
Maybe it's time to plant seeds. Maybe it's time to let go of what no longer serves you. Maybe it’s time to simply rest.
And sometimes, the best way to reconnect with your inner season is to step outside, breathe fresh air, and give yourself space to listen. That’s why I offer Walk and Talk Coaching — a space to nourish your mind, body, and soul while exploring what’s ready to flourish in you.
We walk, we talk, and you reconnect with your natural rhythm — away from screens, distractions, and expectations.
Permission to Flourish
You don’t need anyone’s permission but your own.
So many brilliant women I work with are waiting. Waiting to feel braver. Waiting to get a certificate. Waiting for external validation. Waiting until things are perfect at home or in their career.
But flourishing doesn’t wait. It’s a daily choice.
It’s saying, “I’m allowed to take up space.”
It’s choosing to start even if your hands are shaking.
It’s trusting that you’re enough — not when you’ve ticked every box, but right now.
Here are a few ways to give yourself permission:
Take a micro-action toward something that matters. A small, messy step is still a step.
Celebrate progress, not perfection. Notice what’s shifting, even if it’s subtle.
Let others see your in-progress self. That’s how connection grows.
Growth is rarely in a straight line. Flourishing is rarely tidy.
But it’s always brave.
Let Spring Lead the Way
So if you feel that tug — that quiet inner nudge that something in you wants to stretch, to rise, to be seen — trust it.
Let this spring, and the spirit of Beltane, be a reminder:
You don’t have to be perfect to begin.
You don’t have to be certain to take the next step.
You don’t have to do it alone.
If you're ready to explore what’s next — whether it’s a quiet shift or a bold step — I’d love to walk beside you.
Book a Walk and Talk Coaching session to move and reflect in nature.
Or, if you’re curious about how coaching could support your flourishing this season, book a free discovery call to find out more.
About Rae
Rae is an experienced coach dedicated to empowering women. With a background of working with hundreds of leaders in her extensive NHS career in 2023 Rae took a leap of faith and followed her heart into founding Coaching Women to Shine. Her vision is to inspire women to live authentically and in harmony with their values, helping them find alignment in both their professional and personal lives. Rae’s approach is values-driven, and she brings genuine passion to her work, fostering growth, confidence, and clarity for each of her clients. Through a personalized, empowering journey, Rae encourages women to embrace their strengths, reconnect with their aspirations, and lead lives that truly resonate with who they are at their core.