Navigating Career and Life Transitions: My Journey to Authenticity.

Career transitions are a common theme in my work, and I often find myself in deep conversations with others about their inner experiences during these pivotal moments. Today, I want to share my own current experience with you. I believe this openness will help me connect with you on a more authentic level, especially if you're navigating changes in your life right now.

I'm currently undergoing a significant life transition as I adjust to living in the countryside. This shift has been both challenging and enlightening. A recent conversation with one of my dear friends shed light on why this move has been so psychologically tumultuous for me. She explained that the turmoil I'm experiencing is likely my nervous system searching for a new sense of safety after years of hypervigilance, driven by high levels of adrenaline and cortisol.

Living in a constant state of hypervigilance has not only affected my mental health but has also taken a toll on my physical wellbeing. For years, I've struggled with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, a condition exacerbated by stress and anxiety also due to a history of trauma.

Understanding the nervous system's response to stress has been pivotal in my journey. The nervous system operates in different states: the ventral vagal state, which is associated with safety and social connection; the sympathetic state, which is the fight-or-flight response; and the parasympathetic state, which includes both the restful, restorative functions and the dorsal vagal state associated with shutdown and dissociation. For years, my body was stuck in the sympathetic state, always on high alert.

In the city, my survival coping strategies found fertile ground. The constant busyness and stimuli kept me in this sympathetic state. The countryside, however, demands stillness and presence, challenging my nervous system to find a new balance. This transition has forced me to confront a quieter, slower pace of life, which can be frightening for someone with a history of trauma.

One of the biggest lessons I've learnt is the importance of making space for stillness. Being present to myself is not always easy, but it's a crucial part of my healing process. I've come to understand that finding a balance between the stimulating city environment and the tranquil countryside is key to my wellbeing during this healing chapter.

I'm also exploring the healthy dorsal state by giving myself permission to be still and learning to sit with uncomfortable but important emotions. This practice is helping me to process and integrate past experiences, fostering a deeper sense of calm and resilience. Spiritual practice, hypnotherapy, mindfulness are part of my toolkit. At the same time, I'm giving myself permission to play with what might be outside my familiar territory.

Additionally, I've recently started my training as a hypnotherapist and counsellor. This new journey is helping me deepening my understanding of my own experiences.

Making small, incremental changes has been essential in this journey. Sudden, drastic shifts can shock the nervous system. By taking gradual steps, I'm confident that it will be easier to adjust and maintain a sense of stability.

Transitions, whether in career or life, can be incredibly challenging, especially when compounded by other changes. But through this experience, I'm learning that embracing these moments with patience and compassion is vital. I'm committed to finding a healthy balance between stillness and activity, and I hope that sharing my journey will inspire and support you in your own transitions.

Transitions are an internal experience. The brain wants to make sense of this experience so desperately, urging us to find certainty through whatever stories we come up with. These stories may lead us to make choices that are not necessarily right for us—although they may be right for our survival. How might you allow yourself to be curious and explore what may be outside what is familiar to you? What might those uncomfortable emotions want to tell you? How could you invite yourself to dance and play with new mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual states? How could you tune into your own experience and listen to what your nervous system is communicating to you? It knows the answer way before your conscious mind and its desperate urge to make stories to find meaning.

Being able to navigate your nervous system with flexibility will make you more resilient. I'm doing it, though it's not easy at times. Sometimes I fall back on survival coping strategies in times of crisis. And that's OK. They have kept me alive for so long. I am a human being, just like you.