Transitions

We are constantly going through change and transition, both personally and professionally.  It is said change is inevitable.  One of my favorite resources for this topic is William Bridges' book Transitions; Making Sense of Life's Changes.  It has helped me navigate through multiple periods of change and transition. 

Bridges describes change as situational and transition as psychological.  Transition is the inner reorientation and self-redefinition that we go through to incorporate changes into our lives.  "Without a transition, a change is just the rearrangement of furniture" (Bridges, xii).

There are three distinct phases to transition as follows:

• Ending:  This must be dealt with if we are to move on to whatever comes next in our life.  Endings consist of five aspects to include disengagement, dismantling, disidentification, disenchantment, and disorientation (109).
• The Neutral Zone:  This often is the most difficult stage, and the one we want to either fast forward or reverse.  It may represent a time of emptiness, or feelings of being lost (133).  It may feel unproductive, although underneath the surface there is much happening.  It is a time of letting go.
• New Beginning: The change and renewal occurs with the deconstruction of the structures and outlooks of the old life (157).  When we are ready for the new beginning a new opportunity will arise. 

It is critical to experience the transition process in order to find new beginnings.  Change and transition go hand-in-hand.  How have you navigated through all three phases of transition?