Do you feel it too?

Just as the leaves on the trees change color every fall, life goes through shifts. Some of these are subtle and expected, like my daughter turning “10” last week. Some are unexpected like the loss of a job that my client’s husband recently experienced.

I invite you to think of a shift that’s happening in your life. Imagine you can step back from the shift so you can observe it from an outsider’s perspective. As you look at it, you will notice three things. You’ll see an ending, an in between middle place, and a new beginning on the other side. As you acknowledge these three phases it’s easier to embrace the shift and see that your life is going through a transformational process. Life is no longer the way it has been and it’s not yet fully how it will be.

I call this “in between” phase the “transition place” which can feel very uncomfortable and a bit disorienting. If you’re in this place you know what I mean. The picture is unclear, life seems fuzzy and perhaps foggy, and you don’t know quite how to “be”.

For some in the transition place, you might feel overwhelmed and shut down. For others, you might want to step in and take charge to make something happen. Both are normal yet can delay the new beginning unless you acknowledge that you are experiencing the transition which comes with life’s shifts.

If you find yourself in a shift of transition, here are some tips to consider:

1. Allow yourself to fully experience what is ending. You may need to give yourself permission to grieve. I also recommend you honor and celebrate the joy of what happened before the ending. Who have you become? How have you grown? What’s to be celebrated?
2. Practice extreme self-care and nurture your spirit. You need to get your rest, spend quiet time to reflect and meditate as you give yourself permission to “be” rather than “do”.
3. Budget your time, energy and money. Get clear on what’s needed for you to thrive personally and in your work. What’s necessary emotionally, physically, spiritually and financially?  Schedule your activities in your calendar, including your reflection time. Notice what drains your energy and eliminate these activities for now.  Identify what expenditures you need to add and what you need to eliminate, at least for the time being. Bottom line: Be intentional with how you use your time, energy and money so you can create ease through the transition to the new beginning.

Something else to consider is how you view the shift. Do you see it as something awful or as a new opportunity? The way you look at the transition will make a huge difference in what you experience inside and around you.

I am personally going through major shifts at the moment which I’ve eluded to in past blog posts. My life and work are going through a significant overhaul so I can speak from experience that the tips above have helped to make the ending more positive, the transition place less chaotic and the new beginning more exciting.

What do you think? Will these tips help you go through your transition times with ease and grace? Post your comments at the blog and let our community know; I’d love to hear from you!

If you’d like to learn more about the changes happening , I invite you to sign up for my monthly newsletter which is also going through a transition. In this “in between” place there are exciting new coaching, mentoring and training programs that will benefit you and your teams and organizations.

In the meantime, let the wisdom of Albert Einstein guide you through your transition times: “There are only two ways to live your life. One as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is.”

Here’s to your miracles happening in the shifts!