In times of change and transition we typically adopt one of two opposite mindsets: resistance or acceptance. How can we make transition and change easier like chameleons? By nurturing our mind and emotions, we can gradually shift from hesitation and resistance to flow and acceptance, allowing new life chapters to unfold with hope.
A New Chapter
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Transition: Passage from one state, stage, subject, or place to another. Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Imagine our lives as a book, the pages of which hold our every story. Each chapter represents a new stage or phase in our lives. When we complete our life stories we pass our book to our children, our grandchildren, and one day, our great grandchildren. Our legacy continues and is passed across generations. It’s the beauty and natural cycle of life.
As our life stories unfold, the end of a chapter signals the beginning of a new chapter. As we transition to the next stage, we may feel unsettled and insecure. We may hold on to the old, to the known and to the safe, resisting and rejecting the new, the uncertain, and the risky. We may not want to open new life chapters and leave behind life as we knew it. But, how can we move forward if we refuse to let go of what’s behind us?
Our Book of Stories
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A job change, redundancy, new boss, relocation, changing schools, major stages of biological change such as puberty, pregnancy, menopause, or the passing of a loved one all mark the closure of life chapters and the beginnings of new chapters.
A negative mindset comes from resistance: we are flooded with negative thoughts of ‘why me?’ and ‘why now?’ and emotions such as fear, doubt, anger, sadness, frustration, anxiety and lack of trust. A positive mindset, on the other hand, sparks from openness and curiosity to see where the next chapter will take you on your life journey. We embrace feelings of excitement, joy, trust and willingness.
Plan Ahead
Over the next month, we will be looking at transitions in depth. Nurture your soul, take care of those around you, and learn how to pre-empt natural consequences of transition periods. The old saying, “Luck favors the prepared,” can be equally applied to periods of transition in preliminary and post stages. Do you have a transition coming up? Stay tuned for more!
