How John Fisher's Personal Transition Curve Redefines Growth

For over a decade, John Fisher’s Personal Transition Curve has been a cornerstone in both my personal journey and professional practice. This model has provided me with profound clarity and facilitated meaningful experiences for both myself and my clients. Over the years, it has helped me navigate challenging changes, reinforcing the importance of self-leadership and resilience in times of transition.

I would like to express my deep gratitude to John Fisher for granting me permission to use this model in my article. Together, we share the hope that this model continues to contribute to personal and organizational development, offering a valuable guide to understanding and managing the impact of change in our lives.

This journey has shown me how each phase of this curve represents a unique opportunity for transformation. Below, we will explore these phases in detail, focusing on how we can cultivate more conscious self-leadership to navigate them more resiliently, with empowerment and autonomy.

Anxiety

The journey begins when we realize that change is like being in a boat on the open sea, without a map or control over the wind. Suddenly, you become aware that things around you are shifting, but you have no clear route or immediate control over what’s coming next. This feeling of vulnerability and uncertainty brings apprehension, but it is the first step toward understanding and confronting the change. Clarity and transparent communication are key here, providing people with the tools they need to begin visualizing the new reality and how to respond to it.

Motivation (Happiness)

After the initial phase of anxiety comes a sense of relief and positive expectation about the change. Often, this initial motivation is driven by hope for improvement or the perception that, finally, something will change for the better. However, it is crucial to manage expectations to avoid disappointment. Dialogue and alignment between personal expectations and the realities of change are fundamental to ensuring that initial enthusiasm evolves in a healthy way.

Denial

Denial arises when individuals resist accepting the change, acting as if nothing is different and ignoring the evidence around them. It’s a common defense mechanism when faced with situations that challenge internal stability. In this phase, providing clear and accessible information, along with emotional support, helps the person gradually recognize the reality of the change and begin processing it.

Fear

As the reality of change begins to settle in, fear emerges, with concerns about how to cope with the new circumstances. In this stage, uncertainty about one’s ability to adapt can become overwhelming. Supporting individuals in developing new skills and offering positive feedback on small achievements can minimize the impact of fear and aid in adaptation.

Guilt

Reflection on past actions, often highlighting mistakes or poor choices, brings about feelings of guilt. People begin to question their previous decisions and feel responsible for negative outcomes. To move forward in this phase, it is important to adopt a learning mindset and accept mistakes as part of the growth process. Self-compassion and the support of a trusted network can transform guilt into an opportunity for reevaluation and improvement.

Despair / Depression / Crisis

This phase reflects a sense of identity loss, where individuals feel demotivated, directionless, and face an internal crisis about who they really are. It is the lowest point in the transition curve and may be marked by a lack of hope. Here, cultivating trust-based relationships, receiving nurturing feedback, and providing a safe environment are crucial to help the individual begin rebuilding their confidence and finding a new sense of purpose.

Hostility / Conflict

Hostility arises when active resistance to change takes over, often expressed through defensive or challenging behaviors. This can include attempts to revert to old practices that are no longer applicable. To overcome this phase, it is essential to foster an environment of continuous learning, where people feel safe to experiment with new approaches without fear of failure.

Acceptance

After navigating through the more intense emotions, gradual acceptance of the new reality begins to take hold. Individuals start to see the value in the changes and find their place in the new context. Celebrating small victories and reinforcing the feeling of progress are effective ways to keep individuals motivated on their journey of adaptation.

"When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves." - Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning

Moving Forward

In this stage, individuals regain control and start acting more proactively and confidently. They feel more comfortable with their choices and able to move forward with a renewed sense of purpose, aligned with their values and beliefs. There is now a greater willingness to experiment with new approaches and consolidate learnings, moving into the future with autonomy and empowerment.

Final Reflection

Just like being adrift at the start of a storm, we initially have no control over the winds of change. However, over time, we learn to adjust our sails, navigate with more confidence, and even find a new path that leads us forward. Understanding Fisher’s Personal Transition Curve is like developing these navigation skills—it’s a process that enables us to handle the unknown, find meaning in each phase, and emerge stronger and more prepared for the future.

Self-leadership plays a vital role in this process, allowing us to navigate these stages with intention, learning to manage our emotions and adjust our actions consciously. When we take responsibility for our own journey, we are better equipped to inspire and lead others through their own transitions, creating organizational environments that foster both personal and collective development.

I hope that this reflection gives you the courage to embrace change with a heart full of hope and a mind ready to navigate even the roughest seas, knowing that every challenge brings the possibility of growth and transformation.