Candles as a Transitional Action

TRAN • SI • TION 

The process or period of changing from one state or condition to another.

It can be difficult to transition from one task to the next, from one phase of life to another, or really just from one thing to any other thing. We get it. We’ve been there too, trust us.

That’s why it is so important to have transitional actions in place. These are things that help you mentally and physically shift from one moment to another. Here at St. Brown & Co., we firmly believe that lighting a candle is one of those key transitional actions. In fact, our founder built our whole brand around it.

The very act of lighting certain candles during certain tasks helps us get into the right mindset to complete that task fully. Likewise, snuffing out that candle in exchange for another helps us to transition to a different task and change our mindset to whatever is needed to be fully present in that moment. If we’re unable to focus or get something done, we light a candle as sort of an “on” switch. Then, when we need to move on to something else entirely, we snuff that candle out as though it were an “off” switch. We light a candle when we’re getting ready for work. We light a different one for when we actually begin working. And we light yet another one when we’re winding down for the evening.

These moments all carry significance, even though they may seem like a small portion of your day. Think of how much of your day you actually spend in transition: getting ready for work, commuting to and from work, preparing dinner, getting ready for bed. All these moments take time and add up quickly. According to a 2019 study, the average person will spend a total of three entire months of their life just getting ready for work. These moments are not small. They are not just a blip in your day. They take up time that, if not spent wisely, is time wasted. Lighting a candle in these moments (except for the commute…for obvious reasons) helps establish these moments for what they truly are: dedicated moments for you.

You can choose how to handle these transitional moments, either with frustration (like many people do) or appreciation. By lighting a candle during these moments, you can reframe them with appreciation and gratitude, instead of just going through the motions. Transitional moments can carry so much weight and potential, no matter how small they may seem in the day-to-day. So much of our lives are spent in these transitional moments, despite being taught to brush them off as part of our “daily routine,” when in reality they are made to be so much more. These moments do not need to be mundane. They can be magnificent. You just need to find the right candle to make it so. Lucky for you, we have plenty to choose from.