Navigating Transitions
A “transition” is a Movement, Passage, or Change from One Position to Another.
We are all going through changes and transitions this spring as more and more of the pandemic restrictions are lifted. The cumulative impact of transitional change is that it can take a toll on our spirits. Change can sometimes feel overwhelming, particularly if that change was not by choice.
Just the other day I jumped up from lunch outside with friends and put my mask on to walk to my car. My friend called after me, “you don’t need to wear your mask outside anymore Pam!” I replied, “oh yeah, that’s right what was I thinking!” And then I remembered that wearing a mask is all I have been thinking about for the past year!
Do I have a mask?
Is it clean?
Do I have enough in the car if the kids need one?
Buying the perfect mask became a quest, so getting used to NOT wearing a mask is going to be a bigger transition than conditioning myself to wear one in the first place.
Another big transition I am facing this spring in one of the heart.
Two of my babies are graduating this spring, one from high school and one from college.
*Gulp*
I am excited for these passages from one place to another for my kids, but I am not so sure how my heart is going to fair. I love my full house and being a mom to my four kids.
I have to admit the preparations leading up to the graduations this past week have left me feeling harried. It is impossible to be mindful when you are going ninety miles per hour. Wasn’t this the pre-covid way? Surely I am more zen now.
As a contemplative, I long to live in the present moment. Being aware of my fast paced life, I am planning to slow myself down and experience the weeks of celebrations mindfully. Healthy living during times of transitions necessitates finding a balance between doing and being.
If I pause and take the time to think back over my life I notice that there has been a rhythm of these transitions, one after the other like chapters in a book.
I can’t stay in the same place too long because life has a way of pushing me along to the next thing and then the next thing.
The key here is awareness and then remembering to pause.
Breathing in and out—in every single moment. Each pause is an invitation to be present and fully awake to my life.
Then everything becomes an opportunity to be a blessing moment. This is how we can live our lives more fully now and cherish these memories later—with an open and grateful heart.
Tips for Navigating Transitions:
Check in with yourself. How are you feeling? By assessing your current state of mind you are acknowledging the present moment and are better able to slow things down.
Communicate how you are feeling. Go for a walk with a friend that can listen with a compassionate heart. Talking to someone else helps us bring our anxiety, trepidations, and fears out of our bodies. This leaves us free to embrace our lives—right now.
Try setting the expectation that change is inevitable. With awareness, I can be more open to change and able to welcome the natural order of things. You can think of it this way; you get to choose in every moment to either embrace or resist change. Embracing is the easier choice.
Be kind to yourself. Everyone responds to change differently. There’s no predictable timeline for when you should be comfortable with change. Let yourself celebrate the joys or grieve what you will miss about this time in your life. Rely on what you already know about yourself and what approach has worked in the past.
Practice Mindfulness. Take time out of your day just for you. Have a cup of tea, take a bath or try praying for someone else. This self-care practice can get you out of your head and into your body and it helps to alleviate stressful feelings.
Navigating change is a skill. As we grow and learn we can become aware of what practices or skills best help us navigate life. Often we run from the very things that bring us peace when we feel anxious or afraid. Being mindful helps us to remember the skills we already have.
Cheers to new beginnings!
Simple, joyful, fun.
-Pam xx