Life is full of transition.
Job changes.
Relationship changes.
Location changes.
Transition can be really hard.
How do we come through it all with our heads held high
and with the ability to move forward?
You can do it.
I’ve been through a lot of changes in my life. A lot of people have come in and out of the picture. I’ve had a few jobs and am now self-employed. I moved across country, when I was young, with my parents and recently moved to a new city after my divorce. I understand what it’s like because I’ve lived it.
This past Friday, I took a painting class with a handful of my girlfriends at Noelle Rollins Art Studio. Noelle is an incredible artist and instructor. The painting we did was the image shown here, entitled Crossroads. The left side represents the past chaos and the right side represents the sense of calm I want to feel as I move through the transitions in my life. It was a lot of fun painting this image and part of my healing journey. Of course, healing takes a bit more than one painting.
“You are strong enough to get through anything life throws at you.” – Michele Bergh Click Here to Tweet
Here are some tips for moving through transition gracefully:
- Set an intention. How do you want the process to go? What is the most important thing to you?
- Stay present. Don’t spend your time focusing on the shoulda, woulda, coulda’s or worrying about the future. All you have is today. Make the most of it.
- Stay grounded. Eat right. Move your body. Take care of business.
- Focus on the positive. What’s working well in your life? Some days that might simply be that you got out of bed. Whatever it looks like, celebrate it.
- Ask for help. There is no shame in needing help. People love to provide support.
- Breathe. A few deep breaths can do wonders for any stress you are experiencing.
- Trust that you can get through this. Because you absolutely can! I just know it.
Transition can be an opportunity to re-define your life…to discover what’s truly important and to really notice what works well for you. Ready to live your strongest life? Click here.
What wonderful tips you have provided us with for times of transition. I have used so many of them myself. Setting an intention and trusting it will turn out exactly how I want it to has been one of the most important ones for me to put my focus on. I try to use whatever I have in my power that I have learned over the years to help me stay focussed on the positive. It’s not always easy. Sometimes I feel like I have wandered so far off the path, but truly it is only a shift or a choice away. Thank you this was great to read.
Sometimes I am amazed at how some of the simplest techniques are the best for getting us through! It isn’t always easy and I think that’s why it’s so important to have multiple tools to choose from. It is simply a choice.
Oh my goodness. So many transitions right now, and a whole year of them to come! This is a wonderful reminder to take the time to acknowledge all that work, instead of being surprised and annoyed that I’m tired.
Yes, Corie, there are so many transitions for many of us. I find myself wondering why I feel so tired sometimes too. This reminder is good for all of us. Thank you for commenting! I appreciate it very much.
Definitely needed this advice as I’ll be going through a transition in a few months. It’s scary, but I know it will be worth it.
I’m glad it is helpful, Cassandra. Good luck with your transition. Take care of yourself.
Michele, These tips are great–I even use some of them! Hear that big exhale, oops, I was holding my breath again! 🙂
Isn’t it interesting how we have all these tools and still find times when we forget to use them. My recent blog posts and the Reiki class I’m doing has been so helpful to bring me back to this space and using these tools on a more regular basis.
SO right–“we have all the tools and still find times when we forget to use them”. Thank you for the reminder–I’m bookmarking this post to come back to.
Reiki is also a big help for me in times of stress and change. I will enjoy reading about your Reiki journey if you choose to post about it!
Hi Gigi,
I will post about it periodically. It is such a wonderful energy. It definitely makes a difference on how I sleep if I use it when I go to bed, which I do most nights.
Hey Michele!! thanks for sharing your wisdom. I love your website design too!
Yiye
Thank you and thank you for stopping by Yiye!
Michele, you are SO right, there is nothing more permanent than change. It is crucial to know how to navigate throuhg the reefs of change. Adopting the paradigm that life IS change can facilitate coping with such. Thanks for reminding these straightforward and very powerful aids.
Cheers!
Anya
Yes, it is crucial. I’m glad the reminder was helpful.
When I first started reading this I thought my life is not in transition. And then I realized, well, d’oh! I’m in the process of creating the life I want, the business and job I want…if that isn’t transition then I don’t know what is. I’m going to sit down with a cup of tea, a blank notebook and go through your tips one by one.
Thanks, Michele…you may just have bought some order to my day!
I really feel like we are almost, if not always, in transition. It’s just that some seem larger than others. I love all the changes I’ve made in my life and I can’t ignore that my anxiety actually seems to be getting worse, not better like I expected, which I guess just confirms that stress is stress and can have the same impact on our body systems, whether it is positive or negative.