The Only Thing That Is Constant

Driving over a pothole is NEVER a pleasant experience.? My first thought when I drive over one is, Oh, I hope I didn't damage my car!? And then before I know it, I can tell a difference in my steering and my car's alignment.? My car starts pulling off to the right or the left.? And the bigger the pothole, the stronger the pull is to one side or the other.? Hitting those potholes makes it difficult to drive straight.? And it takes a lot of energy and focus for me to stay on the road - and in my lane.??

Changes or transitions in our lives can feel like navigating (and sometimes hitting) potholes.?

Research states that each of us goes through dozens of transitions that disrupt our lives, one every 12-18 months or so.? Sometimes we navigate the transition seamlessly.? Other times, the transition can seem so big, like the giant pothole, that it causes us to get stuck as if we have fallen into that pothole, making it hard to get out and keep moving forward.?

Yes, it can be very difficult to navigate health, personal, or professional transitions we experience in our lives -- first by being able to navigate them well so they don't cause us to get stuck, and then also by having the ability to keep steering straight after (or while) we experience them.?

Some of these health, personal, and professional transitions (potential potholes) can be

?? Job changes

?? Loss or illness of a loved one

?? Relationship changes

?? Midlife

?? Moving

?? Retirement

?? Pregnancy/birth

?? Empty nester?

Not only can we get stuck as we go through the transition, but the change can bring on all sorts of emotions that we are not used to, such as fears, anxiety, and sadness. It's easy to wonder -- what is going on?

Besides all these emotions, these transitions can also cause us to feel ...

?? Overwhelmed

?? Stressed

?? Exhausted

?? Foggy-brained

?? Sense of loss including loss of identity

?? Grief

It is easy to lose yourself in the midst of the transition and the changes you are going through. It can leave you with such an unsettling feeling -- because many times, it is something you have never experienced before. You long for the person you once were and wonder where "you" went.? And you struggle with clarity on how to navigate the transition and the changes you are going through.?

This is exactly what happened to me?9 years ago when I changed jobs at the 4-year university I was working at. I had two different jobs in the 11 years I had been there, so I thought it was time for a change.? I love to be challenged and to grow, so it seemed like a good idea.? But when I started my new job, I instantly felt overwhelmed and stressed because this was all new information. I felt the pressure of all the new information and responsibilities that I needed to know and understand quickly, and it caused me to panic.

The panic and stress impacted my brain.? I could not think straight, which led to not retaining anything I was trying to learn.? The stress and sense of overwhelm also impacted me physically -- causing me to experience poor sleep and to make poor food choices.? It also affected me emotionally because my emotions and moods were out of whack.?

I thought -- what is going on?? This is not like me. I usually embrace change well because I see it as an opportunity for growth, but not this time.? This time it shut me down.? I felt lost.? And my self-confidence took a major hit.

I?hit a pothole in life that negatively impacted the alignment of my life.? I was veering off to the right and then to the left. I was all over the place.? I was not navigating this transition well.?

Have you ever had a situation like this that caused you to feel like you hit a pothole?? You felt off-kilter.? You felt that something was not quite right but you weren't quite sure how to get out of the "hole."? You feel lost and not sure how to keep moving forward.

It is not a good feeling.???

Thankfully, I had a conversation with a friend who helped me understand why I was feeling the way I was (professional transition - job change) and I also discovered what I was feeling (stress and overwhelm). Now I was able to start taking steps to navigate the transition with more clarity -- to not just survive the transition but THRIVE?during it!?

And I also took time to realize that this little 'ol six-letter word [stress] can do a lot of damage to me [us] -- physically, mentally, and emotionally -- so I began implementing stress-reducing strategies that helped calm my mind and body, which helped me relax more with my job, which led to greater understanding (and retaining) the new job responsibilities.

We need to remember that???

"The?only constant is change."

Yes, change in life is inevitable.? For the most part, life doesn't stand still for you.? Life is full of change.? And this change can move you forward but it also has the potential to stop you in your tracks, paralyze you, shut you down, and throw you off kilter - especially if that change/transition feels like you fell in a pothole.

So what can you do if you find yourself in a pothole (stuck in a transition in your health or life)?

Breathe.? Slow down.? Do your best to relax your body and mind.? This will bring clarity and peace to you.?And just know, you don't need to stay there.? Start with one small step to reduce the sense of overwhelm and stress.? Do something that will nourish and refresh your spirit and soul -- some type of self-care activity.? Take some time to replenish your physical, mental, and emotional health -- because you and your health are important.???

YES!!??You can do more than survive a transition -- you can THRIVE!??

I love that word - THRIVE - so much that it is in the name of my program:? Thriving Through Life's Transitions.? That is the focus of my program -- to help you effectively navigate and thrive through transitions/changes in your life --- because sometimes you need guidance, support, and accountability to get out of that pothole and start moving forward in life.? Click here to read more about my program:??https://transformyourhealthllc.com/services?

"Change is inevitable, but progress depends on what we do with that change." ~ Charles Wheelan

So it is time to take control of that change/transition in your life, so you keep progressing and moving forward in your life and be able to THRIVE through it!!

You got this!!???

Let me know how I can support you.???

Pam Miller

Life and Health Transitional Coach