Transitions are tricky and require adjusting, so how can you cope?
While most people understand that transitions are tricky and require adjusting, we can still easily somehow fail to realize when we are in the process of undergoing a transition in life. We think of a big move, a break up, or a new job as transition but we don’t always consider when we are transitioning out of old ways of thinking, feeling, or interacting with others as transitions. We often forget that setting boundaries with old friends or family requires us to adjust as well. We don’t always remember that entering a new relationship sometimes requires grief of the ending of a way of life we were used to, similar to the way ending an old one might cause us grief.
In order to navigate transitions while also protecting your peace, it is necessary to expand your self-awareness to a point of recognizing when you are crossing a bridge from something familiar to something unfamiliar. Once we successfully acknowledge that we are going through some kind of change, then we can treat ourselves in a way that soothes and nurtures us in the process.
So how do you cope?
Here are some things to try
Create a pattern to hold yourself to. We do well when we can maintain some structure. This does not always need to be a fully time-blocked day or week. For some people this is an elaborate morning ritual inclusive of meditation, stretching, nourishing their bodies with food, and journaling, others do this at night because the mornings are a little rough, and for some of us it is a shorter consistent habit we try to incorporate into our day or week. A few deep stretches and verbalizing some affirmations- even if only for a couple of minutes- can prove to strengthen the relationship you have with yourself.
Other examples that might prove to be especially beneficial in navigating change have to do with taking care of your physical well-being. Our moods are deeply tied to sleep, diet, and exercise/movement. If you are able to maintain a balanced sleeping schedule, find a way to eat well at similar times every day, or have exercise and movement baked into your day, this will all allow for you to deal with your feelings in a way that isn’t weighed by the toll of poor sleep, a flimsy diet, or the lowered energy that can come when we don’t move our bodies.
A note from the writer, Makeena Rivers
As fall comes upon us, many of us are thwarted deeper into our internal worlds. The buzz and social demands that summer often has on people are slowing down. As fall settles in, changes and shifts can be felt both physically and emotionally. For many people, fall is a time focused on working towards goals. A majority of us grew up kicking our academic year off in late August or early September and through this, the season has become associated with things society deems ‘productive’. Fall is also a time many people find themselves longing for connection. It foreshadows the “holiday season” that is a part of this country’s culture, in addition to being baked into many folks’ faith practices. The popularization of “cuffing season” is evidence of how with a drop in temperatures or a change in season, many people are thinking about holding loved ones close and being held in return.
This being said, it can be harmful to go without acknowledging the challenging parts of a shift like this one. The following few posts consist of reflections and practical things to try relating to transitions, endings, and radical acceptance.
While independently implementing tools is certainly a big part of the ongoing journey of self improvement, support from a therapist can be very useful in helping you navigate transitions. To lean how be Morr can support you, visit our site: https://www.bemorrcounseling.com/individualtherapy