Transitions...the birthplace of opportunity
For most people, navigating a big life transition can be complicated. Fear, anxiety, excitement, and a dozen more emotions can accompany the change. It can be difficult to leave the old, and terrifying to take on the new…. Our whole world is experiencing an unfamiliar, scary, new life transition right now as I write this blog. It can be overwhelming.
With the right lens, though, we can see how this transition is also a great opportunity.
Change is inherent in any transition. Sometimes the change is welcome and others it happens TO us, leaving us without feeling a sense of control. Regardless, it often presents us with a lot of emotions. Relationships can feel strained and sadness or depression can ensue. We often spend a good amount of time thinking about what we’ve left behind. This can feel like grief. We might ruminate on the rituals we loved, leaving us feeling stuck and unable to move forward. In those moments, it can be a challenge to see one important aspect of new life changes: opportunity.
When we make a big shift in our lives, we can be tempted to cling to semblances of familiarity with tight grips. We look to recreate what is already familiar. But if we’re strategic, the whirlwind of change can be used as an opportunity for good. I’m talking about creating healthy, long-term patterns that benefit us in our new role/place/life stage. Times of transition in life can be used as opportunities to leave behind habits that don’t serve us, and invest in behaviors or rituals that help us to be the best version of ourselves.
A life transition is a good time to reframe or seek out therapy. I like to think of it as formulating a new lifestyle, which just happens to be filled with habits that nourish my best self. For example:
“I know this promotion is going to bring more stress and anxiety to our lives. I will take a walk at lunch instead of scrolling through Twitter.”
“I am finally going to create and keep a budget in order to be more mindful of finances.”
“I know I function best on a good night of sleep, so I will do everything in my power to get eight hours a night.”
“We are parents now and recognize the need for processing space. We will begin attending couples therapy regularly for extra support.”
“As I plan to retire, I am aware that the amount of time I spend interacting with other people will decrease. I better make plans to have at least one get together a week.”
Whether you’re stepping into a new role, leaving a position you’ve been in for a while, relocating, or facing any other type of transition, your new life change will make space for you to restructure aspects of your day-to-day. And you get to choose if this restructuring will be beneficial or not.
It can be helpful to spend some time reflecting on the habits you want to change before navigating a life transition. What were the behaviors you want to leave behind, and what do you want to make part of your life in your new space? With that list in tow, you are well prepared to incorporate really positive behaviors into your routines. Therapy for life transitions can assist with this process and also bring peace.
As with any new life change or resolution, having grace with yourself is key. The whole world is in a state of transition right now. We all need to have grace with each other and with ourselves. This change is an opportunity to create new things. Let’s embrace it.