Transition Well
Transition
With the new year firmly behind us and spring just around the corner, signs of transition are all around us. The trees are beginning to show signs of life, the muddy ground is getting lost in the shadows of emerging green grass, and the warmth of the sun on my face is a reminder that life is full of transitions. Some of us love transition, some of us, not so much. Regardless of how you feel about it, one thing is sure, you will experience it.
Transition is unavoidable, and learning to navigate it well is a necessary part of personal growth and achieving your dreams. Transition can be a formidable foe for those of us that prize security and stability. If you’ve ever been part of a growing organization you’ve undoubtedly heard the phrase, “healthy things grow and growing things change” but if you’re anything like me, it brings little comfort when the new season of life forces you to wade through trenches of unfamiliar territory new seasons and situations often bring.
Whether you are leading the charge for transition or you’re begrudging every step along the way here are some important steps in navigating transition so you thrive on the other side of the journey.
1- Make space for grief and gratitude.
When we are on the journey from one place to the next it's natural to focus on what’s being lost before embracing the gains. With any type of loss comes a sense of grief. Embracing grief is a necessary part of loss, even loss you choose. But remember, grief has an expiration date, gratitude does not. In moments of longing, rather than avoiding the memories or demonizing them to make yourself feel better, choose gratitude. Be grateful for the good times, the life lessons learned, and moments of joy. Grief says the past mattered. The sum total of your past is what has brought you to the opportunities in front of you. Resist avoiding or dwelling on the past. Feel the feelings that accompany your memories and accept that season for what it was then choose gratefulness. This will keep your heart open and mind steady. With gratitude as your filter each new experience will dim the grief and you will see beauty that you may have otherwise missed. Gratitude is the key to breakthrough especially when we are navigating seasons of transition.
2- Keep your hands open
Holding people and positions with open hands is non-negotiable for healthy relationships and alignment with your divine purpose. Oftentimes we hold so tightly to people we unintentionally suffocate the love and purpose the relationship once thrived on. Afraid of letting go of the familiar we forget to nurture the necessary ingredient for growth, choice. I don’t know about you but I don’t want to force anyone to love, serve, or befriend me and visa versa. I am not a puppet nor a puppet master. Steward well the people and responsibilities in your care, but don’t hold them there. It is important to understand that with new seasons come new purpose, new knowledge, and new growth. The old saying is true, “If you love something let it go, if it comes back to you it’s yours, if it doesn’t, it wasn’t yours to begin with.” Holding things with an open hand allows for growth and sometimes that necessitates the need for movement. When we let things go freely the relationship doesn’t have to be severed, it can be cherished.
3- Take responsibility for your own behavior.
Never allow the behavior of someone else to compromise your character. During seasons of transition it’s easy to get stuck in a cycle of blame and control. Particularly if the transition was not of our own choosing. In an effort to restore equilibrium to our heart and mind we look for someone to blame and something to control. Spoiler alert, it doesn’t restore stability, it prolongs the mental and emotional chaos. Allowing emotions to dictate behavior will rarely, if ever, lead to the wisdom needed to get us to the next part of our story. In these moments, dig deep into your heart and remember what’s important to you. Your foundations for right and wrong, your divine purpose on this planet, and how you can best help yourself and others grow through the situation. What I know for sure is that Character rises to the top, and the truth always comes out. You don’t have to prove someone else’s ill intentions, or make sure everyone sees the truth. Those things have a way of revealing themselves over time. Hold on to who you want to be in this life, take the high road, and do your very best at everything you put your hands and heart to.
None of these things come naturally, but they are necessary. No matter what your season of transition looks like, remember to ask yourself these questions:
1-Where is my opportunity for gratitude in this season?
2-Are my hands open?
3-Am I compromising my character on the basis of another’s actions?
As winter turns to spring, take time to enjoy the beauty that is all around you!