Three Tips to Manage Transitions in Your Life
I hate to admit it, but transitions are difficult for me. I want my go-with-the-flow attitude to show up in every aspect of my life at the same level, but it's not like that when it comes to significant changes. I assume this is normal for most people since significant transitions often take time, energy, and plenty of adjustments until flow happens.
Nearly every quarter of the year, I experience transitioning due to my teaching schedule, homeschooling, personal goals--or should I say life.
By now, I should be used to these shifts since I've experienced transitioning in more than one way throughout my life. After I wrote the original words of this post on September 11, 2019, I went through one of the most complex transitions of my life no less than a month later. And, I am still adjusting to my new ordinary nearly two years later. Before then, I thought I had experienced enough life changes to have the hang of change. I'd gone from living with various family members as a child to living on my own as a young adult. I've experienced living in one state that I adored--North Carolina to one that forced me to grow in ways I hadn't imagined--Illinois. So yes, transitioning is a regular part of life, but it is still something I have yet to get used to, and even though changes of life are not always as laid-back as I prefer, I've found a few methods to help me not become overwhelmed when a change is on the horizon.
Three Ps to Embody Calmness During Transitions
Priorities
I am sure that you've heard that you can't always do everything you want when you want. If you haven't heard it before, well, today's the day you get a new quote to add to your wise words to remember.
Prioritizing is the first step. I cannot do everything. Likewise, you cannot do everything. No matter how many great ideas come to mind or how beneficial something appears, we must remember that we are only one person with limited time. To help me set my priorities straight, I pray and seek help from my Creator. Praying helps me to see how I should invest my time. Prioritizing also means allowing my yes to be yes and no to be no. It's not always easy saying no to an experience that could be considered good, like volunteering or stepping away from a project with great potential.
It might at times feel like I'm missing out, but I like to see it as the joy of missing out because I know that what I am dedicating my time to at the moment is best.
Patience
Be patient. There is an eagerness for life to return to its previous state, especially if we enjoyed the routine. When operating in a routine, I no longer have to think about how much time it'll take me to complete a task because there's a flow. However, when I am transitioning, I often can't work at my regular pace.
I don't know about you, but when I am transitioning into something new, I often have to learn new information, too. It requires patience to learn new skills and develop new routines that work with my lifestyle.
As a homeschool mom to two daughters with different interests, our schedule always takes a hit. For instance, when my daughter played volleyball, we headed out of the door in the early afternoon most days. This change impacted the time I had to teach my daughters and my Outschool classes. However, I can't rush our homeschool experience by cramming everything into shorter days, so I had to be patient and realistic--both a requirement during the season.
Perspective
Here's another quote for you, "Perception changes everything." Focusing on what is true is my lifeline. Philippians 4:8 is one of my favorite scriptures. For about three years, I wore a bracelet that read "Whatever 4:8" to remind this scripture. I don't wear the bracelet now, but the scripture resides in my heart and mind. When I think only about whatever is true, noble, praiseworthy, etc., I can't help but keep a positive perspective.
There will be times when I cannot move at the pace I desire. For example, from late 2019 until recently, I did not have the energy or space to dedicate to writing publicly. It was in my best intention to prioritize my health. I could have spent time speaking negatively about my efforts, but instead, I leaned into whatever is true. And, what is true is by giving myself space to heal, I can better share my experiences and thoughts.
When I look through the "whatever" lens, I can see the good in the choices I'm making at the given moment and the impact those choices will have in my future moments.
If you're like me and find transitioning is no fun at all, I hope you'll find prioritizing, exhibiting patience, and holding onto an encouraging word will help make shifting into new routines, opportunities, etc. easier on you.
What’s your best tip for managing transitions in your life?