When we go through transitions in life, it is often destabilizing. Even when planned and desired, moving from one season of life to another often brings up grief, fear, anxiety as well as excitement, hope, and a full spectrum of feels (if we allow ourselves to feel).
Transitions have been one of my most vulnerable times, where I struggled the most with loneliness, anxiety, eating disorder symptoms, and identity shake-ups.
Awareness of the struggles, I used to resist change... but change is inevitable in life. So how may we better prepare and support ourselves during the process?
Along my journey, I've tried to walk alone. I used to pride myself on my independence, and now that's a silly concept to me as I appreciate that humans are meant to be in community.
Why do we encourage people to do it all alone?
Funny aside - when I was a kid, I used to say "I do myself" when offered help. Andddd... delegating is still not a strong suit... life is a learning journey! But I digress...
As I face many life transitions at once, one of the biggest differences that has made my current situation feel much more stable is being connected to a community. With a supportive community to lean on, the fears of the unknowns softened.
A community doesn't have to mean a large group of people. That community may even be one person - a partner to walk with you. Someone who says - no matter what, I am here.
It's also been important to do the inner work. Internally, what I've found helpful during transitions and all aspects of life is the importance of trusting ourselves and having self-compassion as we learn new things and explore new aspects of life. Being curious, non-judgmental and maintaining a beginner's mind- eager to learn. That shift in my mind has helped me to cultivate safety within myself.
How well do you feel you are able to trust yourself that you can handle whatever arises?
Who shows up inside your brain when things don't go as planned? Judgmental self-critic or your compassionate best friend?
As someone who used to resist change and think it was inevitable that I would struggle, awareness of what comes up and how to manage has helped me to embrace these inevitable transitions. Now, I feel stable, do not rely on maladaptive coping skills to manage the feels (I allow all the feels), and am excited about transitions as new opportunities to learn, grow, and expand - to make the most of this short life.
I partner with humans during life and career transitions, because I know the depths of heck I've gone while feeling vulnerable and lost during transitions in my life. I faced my deepest, darkest struggles while navigating alone - and I am here to make sure that people know that they always have someone to walk with who will support them with compassion.
Life is full of change - How may we learn to accept and embrace it?
How may we let go of this false narrative that we need to do everything ourselves?
We aren't meant to be on this journey alone.
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