Navigating Change and Transition With Ease
I learned to cope with change from an early age. By the age of 18, I relocated with my family 9 times: between countries, continents, US states, cities, neighborhoods, apartments, homes, etc.
My parents didn’t really discuss these moves with me. Moving around just kind of happened, so having a nomadic lifestyle felt completely normal.
I found ways to cope, primarily by burying myself in books and studying. I didn’t; however, learn how to healthily and easily transition into new life.
I linked change with overwhelm and stress. I often times felt anxious, unsettled, and confused. Later, in a writing class, I discovered that I also felt angry with my parents, I felt scared and I missed friends that I left behind.
Here are 3 guidelines to support you in navigating transitions with greater ease:
Discover a balance between stability and uncertainty.
A doze of uncertainty is healthy; however, it needs to be balanced with a sense of stability. Find relatively equal proportions between what’s new and what’s familiar.
Stay connected to yourself.
You might journey into the new without realizing that you are abandoning yourself in the process and loosing your ground. You can start by paying attention to what frightens you, what excites you, what feels shocking to you. Then, give space to your inner experiences, as you integrate them through your body.
Pay Attention To Your Edges.
Notice when you start to feel overwhelmed. What are your signs and limits? Do you become irritated? Do you feel stressed? Do you shut down? Do you feel like sleeping all the time? Once you know your edges, you can prevent some of the overwhelm that inevitably arises during transitions.
Remember to be patient and kind with yourself. Slow down enough to gradually integrate the changes that are happening on the inside and the outside, while maintaining equilibrium and a sense of rootedness.
Change can also bring up feelings of excitement and joy at the novelty of the experiences, sights and people that we come across. Change is inevitable. It stretches us and supports us to grow into fuller versions of ourselves.
What is your relation to change? Are you seeking change? Resisting change? Do you want to create change in your life? Please comment below.
