Navigating Transitions
Change.
A word that provokes feelings of fear or excitement (or both). Change, evolution, transitions, reform, or however you want to say it, it’s part of life. However, many of us have a difficult time accepting and embracing it. Surely, it can be scary to make transitions when there’s so much to consider. How will this impact my life, and my family’s life? Is this the right move? Our brains like to make up so many scenarios in these situations, which just increases the anxiety. However, if we can find ways to reframe our mindset, we can welcome change. Here’s a few ways to help us navigate transitions in our lives.
Fully understand what’s going on:
I find the part of change that scares people the most is the unknown of it all. When there’s so many pieces that are not fully understood, it increases the fear around change. So many times we jump into change without fully understanding the whole situation. Taking time to process internally and with those around you is a very healthy part of the process. Communication is key, as well as understanding all the emotions you might face. Ask questions. Understand the whole picture. Don’t rush what you don’t have to.
Limit Pressure:
The expectations and opinions of others can be a challenge when going through changes. I’ll give an example. You get a promotion at work and at first, you’re completely on cloud 9 and just ready for it! But your boss starts talking about how you will have more responsibilities and a different schedule now. All of a sudden you’re asking yourself questions and you have concerns. How will I make this work? What about my son’s soccer practice? How about my daughter’s ballet classes? How will my spouse feel about this? Are my parents going to need me during this time? What day do I have to leave to avoid traffic during my commute now? The list goes on and on. You are still happy but some fear replaced some of your excitement. Well some people might pressure you not to have these feelings and that you “should just be happy.”
Or it could also be visa versa. You might completely welcome change and people think you should be fearful. As hard as this can be to ignore, it’s key to remember our feelings are our own and we can accept any feelings we may encounter. Take time to process it internally and limit external feedback.
Change can bring out so much for all of us. Transitions are a part of life and we’re all going to face them in some way. Whether it is a transition at work, home, in social settings, or in society, we’re going to experience it and it impacts every part of our lives, no matter what. If this is something you’re struggling with, please reach out to gfico.empower@gmail.com to learn more about how our customized services can help you adjust to workplace transformations!
