How to Manage the Most Common Challenges of Life Transitions

Right from birth, you are going to experience transitions in life. It starts at the beginning of life at birth.

Can you imagine the shock you must have felt being birthed into the cold world from the cozy, safe home of your mother?

After birth, you go from one transition to another. They include: Your first steps. The first time you rode a bicycle. The first time your parents left you with a babysitter.

Then there is the first day of school. Puberty, when your body starts to go through many physical changes. First serious relationship. Leaving home. Going to university. Marriage, becoming a parent, being fired, moving to a different community, empty nest, retirement and death are all part of life’s journey.

Your goal is to manage the challenges of life transitions as best you can.

No matter whether the change is happy or sad it still takes a lot of energy.  Any time you are required to make changes in your routines, your relationships, and your location can take time to get used to.

When you face health challenges it takes time to adjust to changes in your body making it more difficult and sometimes impossible to do things you used to do. This can feel devastating.

Moving through transitions takes time and patience.  It is essential that you give yourself time and space to walk through the changes. You are going to feel awkward, anxious and maybe depressed. Some days you are going to wonder how you are going to make it through this hard time.

Don’t try to do this alone. Find friends and family you trust to walk with you through this time.  They can not do the work for you, but they can be there to support and encourage you.

 Read more on how life transitions are hard

Here are the stages you are going to go through:

1.    Strong emotions, sensations and negative thoughts:

There may be times when you are feeling overwhelmed by your emotions and feelings that you need more than your friends and family can offer.

There is no shame in asking for professional help through a coach, counsellor or psychologist.  Getting professional help is a sign of courage because you can admit to yourself that you are feeling stuck.

2.    Feel a loss of self-esteem:

It is natural to feel less confident about yourself during times of significant change. You start to question your abilities. You get caught up in fear. You feel lost. You wonder if you are going to be able to find a way through the chaos. You don’t know what to do because this is un-charted waters.

3.    Start to accept the change:

Over time you will start to accept the change even if you don't like it.  You discover that you are stronger than you realized. You remember that you are not alone and that people do care about you. Most of all you know that you still have a purpose for living.

4.    Accept that you need to let go of the past to be open to the future:

You are going to experience grief as you move through transitions. It is crucial for you to find ways to feel the pain in a safe environment with friends, family or a professional. The more you can allow yourself to feel your grief the easier it will be for you to move on. 

5.    Start to See the light at the end of the tunnel:

It is getting to the point where you can look forward to the future.  It is accepting that you still have a purpose of living. It is learning to live in the moment rather than being stuck in the memories of the past. You start to feel lighter, and your energy begins to come back.

6.    Begin to feel better about yourself:

Over time you begin to enjoy life more and more.  You now have the energy to spend time with friends. You get back into your hobbies.  You eat better, get more exercise, and you begin to enjoy life again.

7.    You start to see the world again in a positive light:

The world no longer feels dark and depressing. You have found the will to live again. You sense of humour comes back. You are eager to do things that bring you joy.

There are common challenges. With presence you can manage the challenges of life transitions. The most important thing for you to do is face your pain, sadness and despair. The only way to find relief is to find the courage to face it. 

Here are some coping skills:

1.    Accept change is normal:

Your life is a series of transitions. The only thing you can be sure about is change. Sometimes change can be dramatic such as comes from a death, a firing, or separation. The quicker you can accept the changes the easier it will be for you to move through it into a new life.

2.    Don’t be afraid to feel what you are experiencing:

The worst thing you can do is to repress your emotions. The more you push the emotions away, the worse you will make it for yourself.

You may find it hard to connect with your pain, sadness and fear. It might feel like they are taking over your life.  Despite the intensity of your feelings and sensations, the more you can learn to live with them the less you will feel constricted by them.

One way to move through these intense sensations and emotions is to use deep breathing, meditation and prayer. These are ways to ground yourself in your body, heart and head.

3.    Take the time to grieve what you lost:

To be open to the future you need to let go of what you have lost whether that is a person, pet, job, or relationship. Part of grieving is to feel your loss as I described above.  The important thing is finding safe places to feel the intensity of your emotions. 

You will most likely feel comfortable to do this in a place where you have some privacy and presence of a friend, family member or professional you trust.

Find the courage to verbalize what you have been through as long as it does not become like a repeating record.

Express your emotions in whatever way it is safe for you and the people around you. If you feel like crying let out the tears. 

4.    Self-care:

Going through transitions takes a lot of energy. It is vital for you to make sure you are eating well, getting plenty of sleep and not afraid to ask for help.

You might want to let go of some of your extra duties, if possible, to give yourself more time to take care of yourself.

Learn to be gentle with yourself as you move through this challenging time.  You can be your own worst enemy.  Give yourself extra space to prepare for a new chapter in your life.

5.    Remember your life values:

It can be easy to lose yourself during this time of transition when it feels like the world has turned upside down.

Take time to reflect on what is important to you as you start to build the new normal for your life. What do you need to keep doing that gives you life?  Is there something new you want to try in your life?  During this time of transition might be the perfect time to try it!

6.    See the world with fresh eyes:

As you move through the grief, you will begin to see the world with fresh new eyes. Sometimes you need something dramatic to happen to open yourself to new possibilities.  Maybe it is something you have always wanted to do but have been too afraid to try.

7.    The grief will pass:

Going through physical, emotional, mental and spiritual transformation is intense.  Avoiding intensity through drugs and alcohol can be tempting. But in the end, if you can find the courage to face this, head on, you are going to make a faster recovery.

Your emotions are constantly changing.  Just remind yourself your intense feelings and sensations will pass.  The more you can face your feelings and sensation the less hold they will have on you and the quicker they will pass.

Click here to learn some tips to help you move through life changes

You have no reason to fear change. Change is the one guarantee of life. The best attitude is to accept that change will happen expected or not.

When you have experienced some form of loss, it is better for you to face it.  But you need to give yourself time to work through it. 

You need to acknowledge that you are going to require extra care during this time of transition. Make sure you are getting your needs met and that you have a safe space to release your sadness and anger.

Make sure you have family and friends you trust to walk with you through this journey. When your friends and family are not enough, find a coach or counsellor who can journey with you helping you to reconnect with your inner wisdom, courage and strength.

Openly facing the challenges of life transitions, you will find greater purpose and meaning in life as you grow mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically through the forces of change.

I am, Roland Legge a Life Coach here to walk with you through times of transition. I am here to help you discover your inner wisdom and new ways of being. You can join my private newsletter list for Free Monthly Advice and get Your Free Enneagram Test and sign up for a Free 30 Minute Discovery Call with me in my Acuity Scheduling Calendar.