Over the course of our lives, we will undergo numerous transitions, too many to count. Some of them will be small, nothing more than a ripple in the ocean of life. But others will be tidal waves—changing our way of living. How do we embrace change? Here are 3 tips to thrive with transitions.
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Accept that change is inevitable.
“Change is the only constant in life,” Heraclitus, a Greek philospher, once said. We all live in a state of flux—aging, moving, flitting about from one task to the next. Even if we want to stay in a certain state, we can’t. Kids grow up into adults. Flowers bloom in the spring and die in winter. People get hired, and then they retire or quit.
The sooner we accept that this is a natural process, the less we resist. Change is also necessary to learn and progress. Remaining in our comfort zones leaves us little room for exploration. Like a plant in a small pot, our growth is restrained.
Finding meaning.
In addition, change adds meaning into our lives. By growing through our “lifequakes“, as Life Is in the Transitions author Bruce Feiler calls it, we gain wisdom and sometimes find our life’s purpose.
I knew that I would never go back to my previous career after leaving it behind and moving abroad. I started writing and creating new things that have made me happier and closer to what I truly want to do.
Once we realize that change is not only inevitable, but necessary and meaningful, we can begin to thrive with transitions.
Reflect on your past experiences.
Whatever you’re going through right now, it’s definitely not the first change you’ve been through. Big or small, you’ve been through them all. Look back on those moments, those prized experiences. If you can recall, you might have been in the pits, up to your throat in your own anxieties and fears. You might have felt drowned with all the uncertainties and pressures.
Then look at how you were able to overcome them—internal and external forces alike. See how you were able to adjust your thinking, your actions, your life around the new change. Inspect how, slowly but surely, you made it your own until it was normal.
Give it time.
Think of changes as moving into new house. It can look strange and new at first, and you might be wrestling with feelings of nostalgia over your old abode. But over time, the new will become old, and the house will become a home.
To embrace change is tough, no doubt. But give it a bit of time and reflection and you will soon settle in your new routine/job/country. Just take a look at when COVID-19 first hit. The world was in an uproar. It seemed like the end of life as we know it. And in a way, that’s true. But just exactly that—life as we know it, not life itself.
Society is bouncing back, taking baby steps to walk again. We see masks turned into fashion pieces, Zoom weddings become the norm. People are starting to embrace the change and thrive with transitions. And while life may never return to our “old normal”, we definitely are living our “new normal”, and we are all the better for that.
Trust yourself.
One of my last tips to thrive with transitions is to trust yourself. If you followed step 2 and looked back at all you’ve been through, you’ll know you have what it takes not just to surpass, but to flourish with any challenges.
I mean, look at you now, alive and breathing. Battle-scarred, maybe, but definitely stronger. Those changes didn’t kill you, they made you into who you are now.
Don’t focus on the discomfort. Think of the growth and what you can do instead. Find ways to make things better, then trust the process. Change happens, but you can and you will continue to move forward, in spite of, and because of them.
Related: I’m Alone and That’s Okay
3 tips to thrive with transitions
Leaving your home to live in a new country, grieving the death of a loved one, losing your job of 10 years in a pandemic…we all go through several lifequakes over time.
No matter what it is, try not to resist. Instead, embrace change and find meaning in it. Then you will bloom and blossom—a duckling to a swan, a wine deepened with age.
Remember these 3 tips to thrive with transitions: Accept, Reflect, and Trust yourself. Then you can go about life’s constant flux with more grace and ease.
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N
Thank you for sharing, this year many people had to make adjustments in order to make things work!
Kathleen
That’s so true! A lot of major “lifequakes” this year. But we can make it! 🙂
hariandbooks
I completely agree that change is the only thing that’s going to continuously happen in our lives.
I strongly believe that being grateful is an effective way to cope up with all the changes.
thanks for sharing this awesome post.
Kathleen
Thanks so much Hari! That is true. Gratitude truly helps us cope with tough changes! 🙂
Maggie
This post is filled with so much positivity and joy! Thanks for the tips 🙂 They are extra helpful during this pandemic.
Kathleen
Thank you, Maggie! I am so glad they helped in a way. 🙂
Ashley | Make Life Marvelous
This post is so helpful! Change is something I think everyone struggles with at one point or another. I have to admit, I am not fond of change. It makes me nervous, usually. But you are spot on with your points here and I feel like this post is so uplifting!
Make Life Marvelous
Kathleen
Thanks so much Ashley! I’m glad the post was able to help. I agree, change is also something I’m not comfortable with. But when I try to think of these things, I end up not dreading it too much! 🙂
Aditi Jain
Don’t know but felt really good after reading your article. Thanks for sharing!
Kathleen
Thank you! Glad you felt that way!
thehobbithold
Very inspiring post, thank you for the tips! Everyone goes through several life-quakes as you mentioned, and they can make us feel very uncomfortable. A major life-transition for me was moving to China. I wasn’t comfortable with change before moving abroad, but living in a country where everything is constantly in the state of flux changed my perspective a on “change”. Great things happen at the end of our comfort zone ❤️?
Kathleen
Yaay, thanks for sharing your experience! Moving to a different country is a definitely a major change, wow! That’s true, the hardest part is usually at the start. But at the end we see the positive effects of the changes. 😀
Roshanna21
This is such a good article and very needed at a time like this, people are actually afraid of change and life transitions but its builds resilience and personal development
Jimmy Clare
Change is still hard for me but I keep trying
Kathleen
Keep going, Jimmy. 🙂 I hope you ease in whatever changes come your way.
karsenlynn
We face change every day and sometimes its harder to accept than others. Thank you for these insightful tips, will keep them close to my heart ?
Kathleen
Thanks so much, Karsen. That is so true. I hope these tips help you cope! 🙂
Caitlin
I love change actually. Even the ones that start off not looking good but they eventually turn into something great. My favorite tip of your is give it time.
So often we want the change to happen now and don’t recognize the experiences happening. Thanks for sharing such an important reminder that change is a constant part of our lives.
Kathleen
Hi Caitlin, that’s wonderful! I still find myself instinctively resisting change at times, but time does reveal that it is for the better mostly, if not always.
That is true as well! Sometimes we need to slow down and live in the present! 🙂
Carrie Pankratz
I struggle with change, but Covid has actually helped me to see the good in it. I have had several changes in the past few months, and they have been wonderful. Now I’m learning to accept, reflect and trust. Thank you for this.
Kathleen
That’s wonderful, Carrie! This pandemic really caught us unaware but I’m glad you’ve seen positive things from it. 🙂 I feel the same way too!