​Unexpected gifts of the journey

We often talk about change in terms of outcomes – what we’re working toward, what success will look like, what we’ll achieve once we get there. But what if the most meaningful moments aren’t waiting for us at the finish line, but are scattered along the way?

Amid change – especially the messy, uncertain kind – we’re often so focused on navigating the path that we can miss opportunities along the way. Our Juniper snippet of inspiration for June invites us to pause and ‘enjoy the journey’. It’s a timely reminder that the process of change, with all its twists and turns, holds hidden treasures – if we’re open to seeing them.

Earlier this month, we explored the value of embracing change (if you missed it, you can catch up here) and, in this follow-up, we take a deeper dive into the unexpected gifts that we can find along the way.

Clarity in the chaos

Change strips away the familiar, which can lead us to ask better questions. Some of the questions that we like to ask in the Juniper team during moments of uncertainty include:

• What really matters?

• What are we holding onto that no longer serves us?

• What are we learning about ourselves and each other?

Answering questions like these above can really help us to see a clearer picture.

Connection

Change can really help us to build a connection with those who we are working alongside. Think about the last time you were stuck in a queue – at the airport, on the motorway, or waiting for a delayed train. Frustrating? Absolutely. But also, sometimes, unexpectedly rich. A meaningful conversation. A moment of reflection. A shared laugh. In the same way, we find that shared change can build stronger teams. The check-ins, the “we’ve got this” messages, the laughter in the chaos – these are the moments that bond us and one of the things we cherish most at Juniper.

Creativity

When the usual routes are blocked, we’re forced to find new ones. Change invites us to think differently, to innovate, to adapt. Whilst it might be challenging and frustrating, we have found that some of our most creative ideas are born not in comfort, but in constraint.

Growth

Change stretches us. It asks us to be braver, more adaptable, more human. And in doing so, it reveals strengths we didn’t know we had. We become more than we were - not just because of where we’re going, but because of how we got there. This not only applies to us as individuals, but to our team as a whole.

The journey through change is rarely straightforward – but if we stay curious and open, we begin to notice the quiet, powerful moments that might otherwise pass us by. These aren’t just detours or distractions; they’re the hidden gifts that make the journey richer, more human, and ultimately more rewarding.