How to Transition Powerfully
Clients often come to me at an inflection point. How they’ve been doing life is no longer working, no longer enough. There is something new ready to emerge in their lives… but they don’t always know exactly what.
When we sense a transition coming, but don’t know what or how, it can be very frustrating, even disorienting. We live in a world that values certainty, bold decisive action, and achieving pre-determined results. Within that model, where is there space for not knowing, for being led by intuition, for creating things we can’t yet visualize?
Sitting in the not-knowing can be uncomfortable, but pushing through to premature decisions has its consequences. Have you ever rushed a decision, with disastrous outcomes? Or done the work to achieve, only to realize you were going after the wrong goal all along?
By creating space for transitions, and recognizing it is an important phase of the process, we allow life to emerge through us more easily. This means getting to better results, with more flow and less angst. Sounds dreamy, right?
3 tips for acknowledging and honoring transitions in your life:
1. Ask yourself, "What is coming to an end in my life? How can I create closure there?" You may want/need to:
Grieve the end of a relationship.
Grieve the end of a phase of life.
Finish strong on a commitment.
Spend time appreciating things that will soon be gone.
Reflect on your growth, what you’ve learned, how you’ve contributed.
2. Be curious about what is coming, and receptive to it, rather than trying to force yourself to know or act too soon. Catch your brain when it feels stress or pressure to decide, and use these thoughts, or similar, instead:
“I wonder what my next phase will be and how it will meet my needs.”
“I’m ready for a [job, relationship, situation] that supports me to be my best.”
“It’s uncomfortable to not know yet. I’m curious how my next step will emerge.”
3. Give yourself time to unthink about it. It’s well documented that our brains do significant processing and creativity outside of the conscious thinking mind. Leverage that for your benefit, rather than spinning in your conscious mind making endless pros and cons lists.
Meditate
Walks outside by yourself (focused on the walk, not more thinking!)
Prompt yourself before sleep, such as “What am I ready to know about my next step?” (note – this is not the same as lying awake stewing on it!). Then, track your dreams – not looking for magical “signs,” but rather for insights about how you want the next step to feel, what strengths or capacities of yourself you are ready to amplify. If you don’t remember dreams, track how you feel when you very first wake up.
Flow state activities such as art, exercise, cooking – where your mind can quiet because you are focused on one engaging task.
When you create space for the transition phase, the next steps emerge with clarity, when they're ripe. Have you experienced the ease that happens when you take action that is right on time? Even hard actions happen with flow, leaving you more energized, rather than depleted, and lead you to better outcomes.
