Transitions are one of the hardest thing for us as humans.
Like I mentioned in last week’s post, transitions can destroy what we know. All of the rules that we’ve learned to live by, the things that allowed us to be successful, no longer apply. Think of the popular cheerleader or quarterback in high school who fails to transition into real life and forever more longs to go back to the “good ‘ole days.” All the rules they’ve learned to live by in high school, the rules which made them very socially successful, don’t apply anywhere else. The same thing happens to many successful business-people when they retire–one of the biggest challenges is maintaining their sense of self. Many of my retired clients talk about waking up in retirement and not even knowing what clothes to put on–because the rules they’ve lived by for years no longer apply.
When we suddenly become faced with a new world where our old skills can’t serve us, it can create fear, turmoil, and an extremely high sense of vulnerability. I think of my daughters right off the bat–they struggle with change. Even if we’re transitioning into something good, someplace better than we were before, they often resist. The sheer act of change is what they fear, and we as adults aren’t much better. We get comfortable with where we are. Even our silly expressions describe this: “The devil you know is better than the one you don’t.” Why do we say things like that? Why isn’t our mindset that we are moving to something better? Perhaps it’s because most of us are followers in our own lives–we don’t lead. And life calls us to lead.
Transitions are wakeup calls. Reminders that we are IN control, not OUT of control. We are in the driver’s seat, not passengers on the bus. This can be scary and uncomfortable. But it’s the reality of our entire lives, so transitions are really gifts--they help us remember this. As we transition into the new year, a lot of good stuff is coming to an end, and a lot of great stuff is coming down the pike. As you transition into 2014, what is possible? What’s your vision? What’s your purpose? What if the devil you know is nothing more than a devil and what lies beyond the courage is an angel and a world of profound possibility and life? If so, would you first dare to dream and then dare to act?
Photo source here
