Like it or not, things change…frankly, that’s just part of life.
Some life changes are BIG. Their impact on your day-to-day may feel huge and significant.
Relationships evolve with new life seasons. Job descriptions adjust to meet organizational needs. Your home may be different from one year to the next.
Other changes are smaller (though not necessarily less important.) For example, you may acquire new daily habits to meet a goal or highway closures may necessitate a change in your daily commute.
Whether you’re experiencing a small change to your day-to-day routine or a significant life transition, change can often feel hard or overwhelming.
But…
It doesn’t have to (at least not all the time.)
Life changes don’t have to be something we dread or experiences we push to simply “get through.” Here are a few key tips to EMBRACE the changes happening in your life:
- Plan for it.
All transitions, even good ones, come with their own unique challenges. These will vary based on the type of change you are preparing to undergo and your unique personality tendencies.To the best of your ability, I recommend taking some time to reflect on what you perceive some of the struggles may be. When you can identify a potential obstacle you can make a plan to support yourself through it.You may find it helpful in completing this exercise to talk with other individuals who have navigated similar seasons of change. I recommend taking The Enneagram Assessment to grow in your understanding of your own unique personality and what situations can be stress triggers for you.
- Find support.
When certain aspects of your life are changing in significant ways, having the consistent support of people you trust can make that journey so much easier. These can be individuals who have previously walked through the life changes you are about to undergo, but they don’t have to be.
It’s simply important to find individuals who can offer a listening ear, a word of encouragement, and perhaps a “kick in the pants” when you need it.
As you prepare for a new season in your life, it’s important to evaluate your current needs. What kind of support are you looking for? Here are a few things to consider:
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- How often will you see or talk with these support persons?
- Do you have specific goals you’d like accountability with?
- Are there specific topics you’d like them to occasionally ask or check in about?
- Manage your expectations.
Adjusting to change is a process that doesn’t happen overnight. When one aspect of your life is changing, everything about your life is impacted by default.It’s important in these seasons to have realistic expectations for yourself (and others) during the transition. Don’t expect more of yourself than is realistically possible for you to manage.For example, if you unexpectedly lose your job, setting an expectation that you will find a new job by the end of the week probably isn’t realistic or entirely within your control. Instead, a better and more measurable expectation for yourself might be:
“By the end of the week, I will have applied for a minimum of ten new positions.”
- Give yourself some grace.
It’s normal for those navigating life transitions to experience a whole range of emotions.You may feel excited by new opportunities one moment and terrified the next. You might feel devastated, or angry, or any number of other emotions.That’s okay!Be gentle with yourself in these seasons. Know that it’s perfectly normal for transition to feel tough. It’s important to give yourself the space and time to experience any and all emotions that may arise while you walk through seasons of change.
Interested in what our community has to say about transition?
Head over to The SandBoxx Community! Here you’ll find support, accountability, and understanding from growth-focused leaders, like yourself. This community is packed with individuals who have so much wisdom to share about navigating life’s biggest changes!
Article was contributed by: Maria Lees, Team Writer with Sarah Boxx
