To be in transition is to be on the way. On the way to something different, something better, something new or perhaps something familiar. Sometimes being in transition is voluntary, other times we are forced into it. Either way what we make of the time “being in transition” is central to what we find at the end. Often “being in transition” between jobs makes us feel anxious, worried and down.
We may face an unknown future, filled with unanswered questions. We feel as if our circle of control has shrunk immensely.
In many ways life is “being in transition” . From the moment we are born we are on the way somewhere. Each day as our body matures, we learn to crawl, to walk, to speak, and to read, we are in transition. ..
In transition from infancy to childhood, from childhood to our teenage years and on to adulthood, old age and towards the end of our life. While being in the transition of life, we love, we learn and we create. We experience moments of joy and success, disappointment and failure, boredom and stagnation.
Placing a career transition or relocation transition into the larger context of our lives helps us gain perspective on the moment and its challenges. While it may feel extremely challenging at times, keeping our faith in ourselves and in our possibilities and in the gift of life is the first step towards reaching our goals.
It is important that we remember to respect ourselves, our needs, values, skills and celebrate our successes. But succeeding alone is almost impossible or at least much harder, so sharing our challenges and successes with those close to us is imperative. Talk to you friends and family, start a support group or join one!
The keys to a successful transition can be translated into the word RISE:
R for respecting yourself,
I for identifying your values and skills,
S for sharing with family and friends and
E for enjoying the new beginning.
Moving to a new country or region can feel daunting and scary. We leave the familiar behind, our family and friends , a job we like and a culture we know and feel part of. Therefore it is not surprising that relocation can be so stressful. What can we do to ease the stress and help ourselves and our family transition into the new?
Keep a curious and open mind, investigate the new country, region and culture before you decide if you like it or not. Find out as much as you can before you move and keep on learning. Ask questions, look for others who have gone through a similar move, and to the same location. Share your concerns and expectations with family and friends.
Join an online or in person support group. And last but not least identify and understand your own assumptions and how your history and origins has influenced you. This will help you understand your new neighbors and coworkers.
RISE can also define your successful relocation:
R for recognizing your assumptions, I for investigating the new before you judge,
S for soliciting and sharing advise and
E for exploring the world with curiosity.
