Embracing the Spring of Our Next 4-Year U. Cycle
There’s a palpable shift in the air. After more than four years of uncertainty, isolation, and introspection—what felt like a prolonged societal winter catalyzed by the onset of COVID in March 2020—we’re beginning to stir. The days have warmed, the sunshine lingers, and the heaviness of collective anxiety is lifting. Yet as groups once tightly knit begin to drift apart, you might find yourself puzzled by surprising friction: old friendships splintering, conversations growing awkward, and a restless energy bubbling beneath the surface.
This, friends, is the hallmark of spring in the 4-Year U. framework—and here’s why.
From Winter’s Reflection to Spring’s Preparation
In our 4-Year U. model, each four-year arc mimics nature’s seasons:
- Winter (Rest & Reflection): A time of inward focus, healing, and conserving energy.
- Spring (Preparation & Planting): Seeds of new ideas are planted; foundations are laid.
- Summer (Action & Growth): Energy peaks; projects move full-steam ahead.
- Fall (Harvest & Release): Achievements are gathered; endings pave the way for the next cycle.
The global “winter” that began in early 2020 forced us into deep reflection—re-evaluating priorities, relationships, and routines. Communities hunkered down; many connections thrived online, even as others atrophied. Now, roughly four years later, that season of introspection is naturally giving way to spring.
Why Relationships Feel Rocky Right Now
Spring is all about preparation—shaking off winter’s inertia to ready ourselves for the coming surge of activity. That process often feels messy:
- Unsettled Ground: Old patterns no longer fit. Groups forged in crisis may lose cohesion as circumstances change.
- New Priorities: What mattered in winter—safety, stability, digital connection—gives way to renewed desires for travel, in-person gatherings, and fresh pursuits.
- Re-planting Social Seeds: As we “plant” new routines and goals, we might outgrow relationships that sustained us during winter, creating natural friction.
Just as farmers clear fields and enrich soil in spring—sometimes disrupting established grass—this season disrupts our social landscapes. It’s less about “failure” and more about transition: making room for new growth.
The Warmth of Spring, Not the Heat of Summer
It’s easy to mistake spring’s energetic optimism for summer’s full-blown momentum. The sun is shining, and the air feels lighter—but in true spring fashion, the world is still budding. We’re laying plans, testing new ideas, and tentatively reaching toward what could be, rather than sprinting headlong into execution (that’s summer’s domain).
Recognizing this distinction helps temper frustration:
- Spring invites us to experiment and explore.
- Summer will beckon us to commit and amplify.
Give yourself grace for the awkwardness of early growth. Every blossom started as a fragile bud.
How to Thrive in This Spring Season
- Acknowledge the Transition. Notice when old routines or relationships no longer serve your emerging goals.
- Plant Thoughtful Seeds. Sketch out new social or creative projects—reach out to reconnect, or explore fresh circles aligned with your springtime aspirations.
- Nurture Your Soil. Prioritize self-care, reflection, and small experiments. Read, journal, take walks, and listen to the stirrings of your own next chapter.
- Embrace the Discomfort. Growing pains signal transformation. Lean into constructive conversations rather than resisting change.
As we collectively emerge from the winter of the past years, know that this period of social realignment and restless optimism is precisely the spring phase of our next four-year journey. It may feel uneven, even rocky—but out of this fertile ground will come the energy, clarity, and connections ready to burst into the summer of action.
Let the sun warm your face, stay curious about where new paths might lead, and trust that spring’s preparation is the essential prelude to everything you’re poised to achieve.