Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore!

Have you ever stepped into a new season where nothing felt familiar—even when you knew it was good for you? That’s the paradox of recovery and growth. They bring freedom, yes—but they also bring uncertainty, discomfort, and the unsettling feeling that nothing looks the same anymore.

The Overwhelm of Growth

Reaching for a new life—even one of freedom—can feel overwhelming. What once felt safe and familiar suddenly shifts, and our brains panic. For the human mind, familiarity equals safety. So when even small changes shake up our patterns, the inner critic screams: Stop! Slow down! This is dangerous!

But here’s the truth: that voice isn’t warning you of danger. It’s trying to keep you locked in the life you’ve outgrown.

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Two Lives Cannot Reside in the Same House

When my son joined the Navy and left home, I went down to his room and sat on the bed, realizing that he had left an entire life behind for a new one. By the time he finishes his service, his new life will have replaced the old.

And life as he once knew it will cease to exist.

It feels as if his whole childhood life is extinct, and where a child once resided, an adult now takes his place.

That moment revealed a deep truth: no matter how unfamiliar or unrecognizable life feels, the old and the new cannot coexist. One has to give way to the other.

And so it is with us in recovery.

Trusting the Unfamiliar

Your new season may not feel safe yet. It may not look anything like what you’re used to. But unfamiliar doesn’t mean unsafe. It means you’re growing.

Even when things feel strange, a new and welcoming life is in front of you. Freedom is waiting.

Key Takeaways

• Recovery and growth often feel overwhelming before they feel freeing.
  
  

• The brain confuses “unfamiliar” with “unsafe”—but they are not the same.
  
  

• Two lives cannot live in the same house: the old must give way to the new.
  
  

• Discomfort and disorientation are signs you’re on the right path.
  
  

• Trust the process—what feels strange now will one day feel like home.
  
  

Final Thought

If your life feels unrecognizable right now, don’t freak out!. It means you’re walking away from the old life into the new one. Keep choosing freedom, even when it feels unfamiliar. One day you’ll look back and realize—you made it through.

Freedom awaits.

LISTEN NOW TO TOTO, I'VE A FEELING WE'RE NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE