{"id":28874,"date":"2024-11-06T03:50:24","date_gmt":"2024-11-06T08:50:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/blog\/how-to-navigate-large-life-transitions\/"},"modified":"2024-11-06T03:50:24","modified_gmt":"2024-11-06T08:50:24","slug":"how-to-navigate-large-life-transitions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/blog\/how-to-navigate-large-life-transitions\/","title":{"rendered":"Navigating Life Transitions"},"content":{"rendered":"

We have all experienced a disruption in the flow of our lives that has shifted us into a season of uncertainty. We\u00a0find ourselves in a\u00a0space\u00a0where we must\u00a0reorient, learn, rise\u00a0and transform. This\u00a0is\u00a0<\/span>liminal space<\/span><\/i>. In\u00a0liminal\u00a0space, we must summon the courage and create the opportunity to convert knowledge into understanding.\u00a0In this space,\u00a0we have the feeling of being\u00a0just\u00a0on the verge of something.\u00a0This is called\u00a0the \u201ccrossing over\u201d space \u2013 where\u00a0we\u00a0have left something behind, yet\u00a0not\u00a0fully\u00a0crossed\u00a0into\u00a0something else.\u202fThis is a phase of life where we listen deeply to what our life is speaking and uncover answers with new meaning.\u00a0The only roadmap we\u00a0have\u00a0to\u00a0guide us\u00a0is\u00a0our\u00a0internal\u00a0compass.\u00a0The definition of liminal space is\u00a0<\/span>the time between what was and\u00a0what\u2019s\u00a0next. It is a season of waiting, and not knowing.\u00a0It is a season of transition.<\/p>\n

How we frame transition shapes what it becomes.\u00a0There is no date stamp.\u00a0Author William Bridges stated,\u00a0\u201c<\/span>It isn\u2019t the changes that do\u00a0us\u00a0in, it\u2019s the transitions. Change is not the same as transition. Change is external, transition is internal.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>Transition\u00a0begins with an ending, and the process\u00a0follows.\u00a0There are many types or transitions we face, whether one at a time or multiple simultaneously:\u00a0career\u00a0(layoff\/firing),\u00a0family (marriage, parenting, divorce),\u00a0community (a\u00a0move\u00a0to a new city),\u00a0self-concept (feeling stuck,\u00a0insecurity),\u00a0life\u00a0stage (retirement, empty-nesting, death), or\u00a0organizational\u00a0change. These transitions can be chosen, imposed or\u00a0avoided.\u00a0Regardless,\u00a0transition holds discomfort.\u00a0\u00a0In\u00a0these times,\u00a0we\u00a0can\u2019t anticipate what we don\u2019t know, but we must make a choice to trust in what we can\u2019t see or understand. This is how we navigate life transitions.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Transition Phases<\/h2>\n

Working through<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>transitions occurs in\u00a0non-consecutive\u00a0phases:\u00a0<\/span>ending,\u00a0waiting,\u00a0navigating,\u00a0reconciling,\u00a0asking,\u00a0choosing,\u00a0managing\u00a0conflict\u00a0and\u00a0learning.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the\u00a0<\/span>ending\u00a0<\/span><\/b>phase, <\/span>we learn acceptance and how to let go. We identify behavioral patterns tied to familiar roles and reframe belief structures. In the\u00a0<\/span>waiting\u00a0<\/span><\/b>phase, we\u00a0learn adaptability, here and now\u00a0problem\u00a0solving, and healthy coping.\u00a0The\u00a0<\/span>navigating\u00a0<\/span><\/b>phase\u00a0requires patience and\u00a0resilience\u00a0because the route may be longer than\u00a0expected. In the\u00a0<\/span>reconciliation\u00a0<\/span><\/b>phase, we confront\u00a0self-doubts\u00a0that contradict our plans. We identify transition deficits like constantly searching for something\u00a0\u201cout there,\u201d\u00a0rather than\u00a0searching\u00a0inwardly.\u00a0\u00a0In\u00a0the\u00a0<\/span>asking\u00a0<\/span><\/b>phase,\u00a0we question what we truly need to create the life we want.\u00a0In\u00a0the\u00a0<\/span>Choosing<\/span><\/i>\u00a0phase, we notice opportunities to engage in something new and strive to overcome past narratives. It is an invitation to freedom\u00a0and an opportunity to\u00a0create\u00a0decision\u00a0filters that guide\u00a0our\u00a0choices.\u00a0In\u00a0the\u00a0<\/span>managing\u00a0conflict<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/i>phase, we resist the urge to blame,\u00a0self-protect, or be overcome by the truths about ourselves that transition exposes.\u00a0In the\u00a0<\/span>learning\u00a0<\/span><\/b>phase, we open\u00a0our\u00a0mind\u00a0to bring\u00a0discovery,\u00a0fresh\u00a0ideas\u00a0and real transformation. We\u00a0get to author a new story\u00a0of life.\u00a0We learn agency\u00a0and discover purpose.\u00a0We take what we have learned and add it to our toolbox for the next\u00a0season of\u00a0disruption.\u00a0\u00a0We seize the moment to make the unimaginable possible.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Emotional Phases of Transition<\/h2>\n

Effectively navigating each phase of disruptive\u00a0transition\u00a0means\u00a0effectively\u00a0navigating\u00a0emotional\u00a0phases, as well.\u00a0Don\u2019t underestimate the toll our emotions take in transition. Technically, our brain doesn\u2019t know the difference between a physical wound and a soul wound. \u00a0We each have different proclivities in our\u00a0emotional\u00a0response.\u00a0The\u00a0emotional\u00a0phases are\u00a0<\/span>denial, resistance, commitment, and exploration.\u00a0<\/span>When we\u00a0<\/span>deny<\/span><\/i>\u00a0transition is happening, there is a sense of disbelief, withdrawal,\u00a0and the tendency to work as usual. When we\u00a0<\/span>resist\u00a0<\/span><\/i>transition, we tend to focus on the personal impact and our productivity declines. When we\u00a0<\/span>commit<\/span><\/i>\u00a0to honor the transition, we accept the disruption,\u00a0truthfully engage the loss,\u00a0and focus on the future.\u00a0We ask ourselves,\u00a0\u201cwhat was my part in getting here?\u201d\u00a0What do I still have that will enable the journey?\u00a0When we\u00a0<\/span>explore<\/span><\/i>\u00a0options in transition, we begin to ask ourselves, what\u00a0will be\u00a0meaningful?\u00a0\u00a0Now what?\u00a0How can I define a new pathway?\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Life\u00a0Transition is\u00a0assured,\u00a0but\u00a0how we navigate is up to us. We can learn to navigate successfully with the right tools for the journey.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a9 All Rights Reserved<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We have all experienced a disruption in the flow of our lives…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":7063,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"A Coach's Perspective on Navigating Big Life Transitions | ICF","_seopress_titles_desc":"Life is full of transitions & they can be difficult to deal with alone. Learn some strategies for dealing with big life transitions & how a coach can help you.","_seopress_robots_index":"","_searchwp_excluded":"","footnotes":""},"audience-type":[115,118,121,124,120,117,113,114],"display-option":[],"post-type":[128],"topic":[64,60,84],"_person-tax":[1908],"class_list":{"0":"post-28874","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"hentry","7":"audience-type-coach-educators","8":"audience-type-experienced-coaches","9":"audience-type-external-coaches","10":"audience-type-icf-chapter-leaders","11":"audience-type-internal-coaches","12":"audience-type-new-coaches","13":"audience-type-professional-coaches","14":"audience-type-team-and-group-coaches","15":"post-type-blog","16":"topic-business-development","17":"topic-discover-your-coaching-career","18":"topic-personal-growth","19":"_person-tax-1908","20":"not-partnership-post","33":"_person-tax-27814","34":"has-featured-image"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28874","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28874"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28874\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7063"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28874"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"audience-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/audience-type?post=28874"},{"taxonomy":"display-option","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/display-option?post=28874"},{"taxonomy":"post-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post-type?post=28874"},{"taxonomy":"topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic?post=28874"},{"taxonomy":"_person-tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/_person-tax?post=28874"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}