Understanding the Seasons of Wellbeing

“The Seasons of Wellbeing… offer a simple map to assist individuals in healing on the way toward transformation and integration.” — Donny Epstein, D.C.

Just like nature cycles through spring, summer, fall, and winter, our lives also flow through different seasons of healing and growth. Dr. Donald Epstein, founder of Network Spinal, describes four distinct seasons we all experience: Discover, Transform, Awaken, and Integrate. Each season has its own lessons, challenges, and gifts.

 

The Season of Discover

This season often begins when we feel pain, stress, or patterns in life that just won’t go away. It might look like:

• Saying things like “Why does this keep happening to me?” or “I feel stuck.”
• Experiencing frustration, helplessness, or a sense that nothing works.
• Noticing defensive patterns in the body (tight shoulders, holding the breath, clenched jaw, etc.).

Although Discover can feel uncomfortable, it’s important. By finally seeing the patterns we’ve been avoiding, we free up energy that was locked in defense. This awareness creates the foundation for change.

The Season of Transform

When Discover has run its course, a shift happens: “I don’t want to stay stuck anymore.” Energy that once held us back becomes fuel for action. In Transform, you might:

• Feel more determination, courage, or “fire in the belly.
• Say things like “I’m ready to do something about this,” or “This stops now.”
• Take concrete steps: Changing habits, setting boundaries, or pursuing new goals.

Transform is the season of breakthroughs. Old patterns dissolve as we reclaim our power and step into a stronger, more authentic version of ourselves.

The Season of Awaken

After the intensity of Transform, Awaken brings a lighter rhythm. In this season, people often describe:

• A deep sense of gratitude or peace.
• Feeling connected to themselves, to others, and even to life as a whole.
• Saying things like “I feel more present,” or “I just feel lighter and freer.”
• Noticing the body moving more fluidly, breathing more openly, and stress not hitting as hard.
  

Awaken is less about “fixing” or “doing” and more about being. It’s about experiencing joy, love, and connection as natural states of life.

The Season of Integrate

Integrate is about weaving everything together. Instead of staying in one season, we learn to call on whichever one is needed. In Integrate, people often:

• Recognize patterns quickly and use the right resources to move through them.
• Balance action (Transform) with gratitude (Awaken) and awareness (Discover).
• Say things like “I can see the bigger picture now,” or “I’m able to handle stress with more ease.”

Integrate is about resilience. It’s knowing that life will bring ups and downs, but having the tools and inner flexibility to move through them.

Why This Matters

Knowing about the Seasons of Wellbeing can be empowering. Instead of judging where we are, we can honor each season as part of growth.

• Discover reminds us to face what we’ve been avoiding.
• Transform empowers us to act.
• Awaken connects us to deeper meaning.
• Integrate helps us live it all in balance.

 

At Monarch, this is exactly what we work on together. Through Network Spinal care, we help your nervous system reorganize and adapt so you can move more smoothly through the seasons. Whether you arrive in Discover, eager for Transform, or ready to Awaken, your journey is supported here every step of the way.

No matter which season you’re in, it’s the right place for your growth. Each season holds wisdom, and together they create a roadmap for living with more energy, resilience, and connection. And at Monarch, we’re here to guide you through it.

 

 

Citation:
Epstein, D.M. (2012). Seasons of Wellbeing as an Evolutionary Map for Transpersonal Medicine. Journal of Integral Theory and Practice, 7(2), 116–128.

Disclaimer:
This blog post is an educational summary based on the Seasons of Wellbeing framework by Donald Epstein, D.C. It is intended to increase public awareness and understanding of healing and wellbeing. All conceptual credit belongs to the original author.