"We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us."

— Joseph Campbell

7 Things to Know for a Successful Transition

  1. EVERYONE'S LIFE IS MARKED BY TRANSITIONS.
    Without these transitions, you wouldn’t progress through life. With age and experience come greater adaptability and resilience. Resilience, defined as "the ability to bounce back from adversity and to learn from it," is what makes you stress hardy. Life's turning points help you create your life anew and refine your ability to move through life's challenges.
     
  2. FEAR WILL STOP YOU ONLY IF YOU LET IT.
    Anxiety is a normal response when you are faced with the possibility of changing your life direction or beginning something new. Acknowledge it, and then do what you can to dissolve its power to limit you. Fear and excitement feel the same in the body. Look behind the fear for what is enticing about the change at hand. Invite your excitement to guide you forward.
     
  3. PAY ATTENTION FOR RIGHT TIMING.
    We often hold ourselves back until we are forced to leap. Learn to pay attention to the subtle hints from life that it is time to act. Ignoring these "whispers" can result in a stronger warning, such as a crisis, to get us moving. Notice the informative physical and emotional responses to the events in your life. Practice listening to your inner guidance before pain comes as the messenger.
     
  4. GET FAMILIAR WITH CHANGE.
    Practice making changes on a daily basis. Initiating smaller changes makes handling big changes easier and keeps you from becoming stagnant. Remind yourself that you have already accomplished countless transitions starting with your birth. Commit to making conscious choices rather than reacting mindlessly or habitually. Each time you are engaged in making a life change, you access and expand your creativity. Remember that each change offers the promise of something better.
     
  5. TRANSITIONS TAKE 1 TO 2 YEARS TO COMPLETE.
    Be patient with yourself through this process of releasing the old and embracing the new. Take plenty of time to explore your options as you focus on redefining yourself and reinventing your life. Allow yourself to simply "be" as you reflect, review and revise your life map. Transitions include three phases: an ending, a middle phase characterized by unknowns, and a new beginning. The disorienting middle phase is usually the hardest part of the journey. Have faith in the process as you move forward one step at a time until your destination becomes clear. Then be gentle with yourself as you settle in there.
     
  6. MOURN THE PAST TO OPEN TO THE FUTURE.
    It is important to grieve what you are leaving behind. You are in transition when some part of your life ends. Don't let the temptation to forge ahead and make something happen prevent you from completing the first step in the transition process. Grieving, even those positive self-initiated passages, is essential. Mourning is how you let go of the past to make space for the emergence of something better.
     
  7. POWER OF YOUR DAYDREAMS.
    Practical problem solving is important when navigating a life change, but so is indulging your imagination. Notice what ideas or images energize you the most. Daydreaming is a powerful way to access your "inner expert" during a transition. Daydreams bring more of your creativity and intuition to the surface, helping you to clarify what you want and how to get it. Write down your nighttime dreams too for guidance. Reconnect with what inspires you. Rediscover former heart's desires and passions. Use play to find your way.

     

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