Hope for Transitions

#Transitions can be happy, scary, exciting, hurtful or all at once. The feeling can be that of growth or total loss of control. It can be the loss of a job or a promotion, the birth of a child or the death of a loved one; the start of a relationship or the end of an old one, even mid-life crisis (I think we should change the name, because it occurs several times in one lifetime and not necessarily at the middle ??).

#Transitions come in different shapes, sizes, colours and emotions, but they do come. We all experience transitions, in our physique, mindset, careers, spiritual life, relationships – if you have the capacity to learn and grow (as we all do) then it is mostly likely that you have experienced several transitions.

Our lives are in a state of constant #transition, and as someone who has experienced several #transitions in my life as well; how do I keep being #hopeful through it all?

1.??????Acknowledge your #transition – some of us live in a constant state of denial, where we try to wish away our #transition, maybe if I ignore it long enough, it won’t happen. Breathe, recognize that it’s happening and tell yourself ‘I’ll get through it’.

2.??????Consider the possible outcomes – there is a saying

‘ #hope for the best, but prepare for the worst’.

What’s the best possible outcome and the worst? Once you answer these questions, then you are ready for the next one…

3.??????What can I do about it? – Given the possible scenarios, what can I do to get the best outcome? Do I need to unlearn some habits, learn some skills, build certain relationships, let go of certain people; in essence, what can I do to improve my chances of a positive outcome?

4.??????The OTHER serenity prayer – Do it! Act on step 3, because this part is completely up to you.

This generation is no longer asking God to grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change. We are asking the Almighty to grant us the courage and wisdom to change the things we cannot accept! – A young African, speaking to a President

5.??????Talk about it – I’m not asking you to make a lengthy post on social media about your #transition (though if that’s your thing, please feel free!) if it’s a private situation, speak with people you trust to provide an emotional safety net. You’ll be pleasantly surprised that you are not the only one, and there are people in your community (online and offline) who are going through or have gone through similar situations, who can benefit from your experience or you from theirs.

6.??????Celebrate the journey – #transitions can be tough and uncomfortable, but it usually serves as an indicator for new beginnings, deeper understanding, and growth; so, appreciate the changes, enjoy the process and take pride in the things that make you a better person.

Guess what? You won’t know when the #transition is complete, until you look back and evaluate the journey.

Can I tell you a secret? When one #transition ends, another begins, so get comfortable with #transitions!

Yours Hopefully,

Lenny Akindo