Re-Invention via Transition

Transition is the way we come to terms with change, the process of ways of being and behaviors that move us forward in our lives from the time before the change to the time after, like a bridge. Generally speaking, any transition has a beginning, middle and end, though we start with an ending, and end with a beginning. In the middle is the gap between our life before the change and our life after the change, and it can be a time when we often feel disorientated, disillusioned and perhaps lost - the future is unclear and we feel uncertain.

As you can imagine, it could be easy to bail from the transition process and instead look to make a new change! When we make that move, we don't benefit from the opportunity to go through the entire process of transition, which is a great opportunity for learning and re-invention.

The gap between the old and the new, can sometimes feel scary, yet it is a very fertile time for creativity. We can see that in current events: as the economic crisis continues, there is an acceleration of renewable energy industries and awareness programs about consumption practices. We may see it in ourselves, perhaps in a slowing down, an evaluation of our lives and work. And, like an artist looking at an awaiting canvas, or a writer at a blank screen, transitions can be confronting. They require relinquishing our expectations, trusting in ourselves, perhaps beyond what we have done before, and accepting a new status quo.

In the micro-moments of any transition, as we face into the unknown and uncertainty, we can become breathless, worried, anxious and maybe even afraid. In our disorientation and loss of identity in some form, we feel less grounded, less sure of ourselves, unclear about the next step. It is a common time to retreat into old habits and patterns of scarcity.

It is precisely this dismantling that allows us to practice letting go and make space for something new to arise, to engage in the re-invention part of a transition. The power of transition is here, in the sufficiency - or enoughness - of the moment, in the inclusion of the breathlessness and concern, and the turning our attention to the present, the next breath, the next right move. Transition can help heal us, make peace with past wounds, and focus on our passions.

Consider what transitions you are in right now. It's helpful to first identify the change that happened. Then, ask yourself what expectations you have about the change, the before and the after. What feelings do you have about those expectations? What behaviors and ways of being do you notice in yourself? Then, go further and ask: What nurtures you when you are crossing the bridge of the unknown? How do you stay grounded and resilient when you are in unfamiliar territory?

When we can stay authentically present through a transition, we can powerfully - if not perfectly - step into the invention of our new life, our new selves.