How to make it through life’s transitions?

How to make it through life’s transitions?

Change is always hard unless you have a plan to get you through those changes. That’s unless your change is sudden and even then, it’s easier than you think. Change can be unnerving when you must move from one place to another, such as where you live. What if it’s another city, one in which you don’t know anyone or the local area? This is when you consider it an adventure where you learn about a new city, its culture, history, and cuisine. It can be a fun transition if you look at it in a positive way.

That’s the key to any transition in life, looking at the positive instead of the negative. Let’s look at the causes of unhealthy transitions. You are afraid of the unknown, fear of being alone, fear of not being able to cope with a new location. That fear causes stress that causes anxiety and all those issues result in a negative transition. So, what would the causes be to make you go through a transition? Outside influences such as losing your job, divorce, breakup, maybe socially predictable issues, you just graduated college and found a job in another city, or a random act of mother nature that causes you to lose your home or vehicle. Each of these issues can be heart-wrenching, but not life-threatening, so suck it up buttercup and pull up those big person panties and enjoy the transition or should I say, journey. Because guess what, any transition is really a new journey filled with exciting turns and introduction to new people who could change your life for the better if you look at it as a positive and not a negative.

I have begun to suggest to clients going through a new transition to start a journal, write down anything and everything that is happening in your life, and don’t leave anything out write down the good and the bad. Who you meet and who you think you should dismiss in your new life.  Every word describes your new life in vivid memories.

Also, with every new stress you encounter don’t consider it a negative, consider it as a new challenge in life. Remember every new event in your life and transition should be considered as an occasion to provide yourself with something to conquer, adapt and overcome.

My father used to always say. “prior planning prevents piss poor performance.” I never understood that saying until I finally looked at it again and took it to heart. Once I planned everything, you know trips, business adventures, life changes, and planned for the worst, nothing ever happened. It was those times I failed to plan ahead that you know what hit the fan and I was left in a pickle for not planning ahead. So plan for the worst and pray for the better to happen. In other words, get your house in order to make life easier. When you plan ahead financially, physically, professionally, or even to relocate you can relieve a lot of your stress because you looked at every potential possibility and planned for that possibility. Get it. Plan, Plan, and Plan some more.

When in doubt be sure to have a good support network to tap into when you feel you’re about to lose it. Whether it be close friends or even an online community that you can vent to or get advice from, either way, it will help with those emotional times you need a friend’s words to get you through the rough times.

Life transitions are an everyday occurrence and should be considered a life course in learning. You might not want the change, but that change could be the best thing to ever happen to you, so embrace it. Everyone goes through some form of change on a daily basis, so when change strikes, be ready for it and go with it, enjoy the journey even if it has bumpy spots that make you feel as though you can’t go on. Know your strengths and overcome your weaknesses and succeed. Best of luck.

 

Artist and Author Elizabeth Kilbride is a former political operative, author, scriptwriter, historian, and journalist. business professional, creative artist, and life coach consultant. Ms. Kilbride holds a Master's in Criminology and a BS in Business Management she stepped out of the loop for a while but is now back with a powerful opinion and voice in the direction of this country and our economy. As a life coach, she is available to counsel individuals to enjoy their dreams and a better life. Ms. Kilbride loves to travel, and photograph her surroundings and is also a gourmet cook who loves to garden and preserve food for the winter months.