| Are you in a transitional time of your life? | | | | Every transition, wanted or not, has positive |
| If you aren't now, you will be eventually. | | | | moments or outcomes. Your job is to search |
| Read these tips to help you or anyone you | | | | for and recognize them. There have been |
| know through any life change. | | | | tears during my son's kindergarten |
| | | | transition, but we celebrate each moment of |
| Everywhere I turn, moms are in transition. | | | | progress and joy. He made a new friend or he |
| Of course, the most obvious transition many | | | | didn't cry at recess today. Embracing the |
| of us are facing right now is back to school. | | | | positive gives us the energy to muddle |
| But transitions are all around us, some of | | | | through the lows. |
| which are more recognizable than others. | | | | |
| These are some of the transitions that have | | | | Accept the Muck |
| touched my life, directly or indirectly, over | | | | |
| the past month: | | | | How about that duck in the truck who's stuck |
| | | | in the muck? It's pretty yucky in the muck, |
| § Learning to be a single mommy | | | | but certainly a necessary and normal part of |
| and divorcee | | | | transitions. If we don't wade through the |
| | | | muck, how can we appreciate its opposite - |
| § Navigating through menopause | | | | getting clear? Confusion is often a part of |
| | | | transitions that most people would rather |
| § Developing a new business vision | | | | avoid. But if you can relax and accept the |
| | | | confusion for what it is, clarity will come. |
| § Starting a new job | | | | Use the confusion to search your soul and |
| | | | discover new things about yourself and life. |
| § A child entering a new | | | | The mucky water will soon become crystal |
| developmental phase (i.e. the terrible twos) | | | | clear. |
| | | | |
| § Getting remarried | | | | Make it a Lesson in Learning |
| | | | |
| § Finding out that a 2nd child is | | | | What can you learn from a transition? As you |
| on the way | | | | struggle to deal with your two year old's |
| | | | newfound independence, what are you learning |
| § Changing preschools or daycare | | | | about yourself as a parent? What do you know |
| providers | | | | about two year olds, and what is yet to |
| | | | learn? Transitions are great opportunities |
| § Questioning a current career | | | | to learn more about who we are and who we |
| | | | aren't. It's a chance to grow and stretch |
| § Moving into different living | | | | ourselves. Sure, it can be uncomfortable at |
| arrangements | | | | first, but the end result is a better you, a |
| | | | more mature outlook, an expanded vision of |
| § Entering a new phase of marriage | | | | life, or a transformative revelation. A |
| | | | transition is merely another chapter in your |
| Sometimes we ease into a transition, but | | | | life's lesson book. |
| others times we're thrown in, leaving us | | | | |
| struggling to find the life preserver. Some | | | | There is a Light at the End of the Tunnel |
| transitions are short, while others make us | | | | |
| wonder if the end will ever come. | | | | Transitions do not last forever. It's true |
| Transitions can be unwelcome and unexpected; | | | | we can get stuck for awhile, but eventually |
| transitions can also be a planned breath of | | | | there is a light at the end of the tunnel. A |
| fresh air. No matter how we get into a | | | | two year old turns three. The pain of |
| transitional period of our lives, here are | | | | divorce goes away. The learning curve at the |
| some tips to help us navigate our way through | | | | beginning of a new job fades and is replaced |
| transitions. | | | | with routine. The new house in the new town |
| | | | becomes "home". And you don't have to wait |
| Ride the Wave | | | | until the transition is over to experience |
| | | | the "light". The "light" can come in the |
| A transition is like a roller coaster, with | | | | form of support throughout your transitional |
| its ups and downs. Get your balance and | | | | time. Your light is your hope that things |
| integrate the changes into your daily life. | | | | can be "normal" again. Reach out to loving |
| Take it slow so you don't fall down and | | | | family members and friends, professionals and |
| overwhelm yourself. Give yourself some time | | | | mentors that can help you through. |
| to get used to the wave - we don't learn to | | | | |
| surf overnight. And you won't transition in | | | | There is one thing for sure. If you're not |
| one or two days. Expect the waters to be a | | | | in a transition today, you will be |
| little rough at first; this will help you | | | | eventually. So ride the wave, embrace the |
| adjust your expectations. | | | | highs, accept the muck, and capture the |
| | | | lessons. Transitions are a normal part of |
| Look For and Embrace the Highs | | | | life, and you will get through them. |
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