Transitions!

It seems that life is full of transitions. About the time we get comfortable with some aspect of our life it changes. We don’t go from stability period to stability period; but when things change, we have to grow to the next time that is stable for us. Making the transitional time a growth time is important. Transitions happen in several ways. Let’s look at a couple of ways transitions are necessary.

Sometimes we see something lacking in an aspect of our life and we chose to change. In front of us is a picture of where we want to go that will take some intermediate steps. We might see that we lack the skills for a part of our job. The transition may be filled with training, planning and continuing to focus on where we want to go. We may go through several transitional stages before the desired result is attained.

At other times a change is thrust upon us. We lose a job or perhaps someone that has been an important part of our life. Or the change may be a new computer system at our office. We must adjust and move on with our next phase of life whether it is our preference to do so or not. The transition is not always easy but it is necessary. Often we need to reach out to others to aid us in this process. Someone may have faced a similar change that would enable them to offer valuable assistance.

Whether we choose the change or it chooses us, the transition period can be a time of opportunity or frustration. Difficulties are bound to happen during this critical period. How we face transitions often determine ultimate success and duration of the transition period. Successful transitions aid in getting us comfortably into another time period of stability.

A wise man once told me “this too will pass.” Both periods of stability and times of transition follow his rule. They all pass. Another wise person has said that long term success in life requires us to have the ability to “roll with the punches.” Having this flexibility allows us to transition into the next successful aspect of our life. The only real constant in life is change and the transitions that come with those changes.