Personal Transitions

About Individual Transitions
People go through three to five major personal transitions throughout a lifetime. Each one requires an individual to reassess and realign their values, philosophy, purpose and meaning in their life. While some transitions are external and easier to recognize, others are not because they begin internally and are hard to explain.
Learning about the Universal Phases of Personal Transition and what to do in each phase, helps you avoid getting stuck in a phase while ensuring you ultimately achieve the enrichment the experience is meant to provide.

Publicly Recognizable

• Marriage/Divorce/Parenthood
• Career Building Promotion
• Return to Work
• Retirement
• Death or Loss of a Loved One

Privately Experienced

• Step Parenting/Blended Families
• Empty Nest Syndrome
• Financial Independence
• Aging and Social Relevance
• Loss or Change in Health

Universal Phases of Personal Transition
 

1 - Ending	2 - Morphing
Loss of current sense of self and personal identity	Uncontrollable chaos and change
Behaviors: Disproportionate emotional reaction to everyday circumstances Hostile response to neutral requests Tendency to ignore what is taking place or what is request of you Emotions: Anger and denial Sadness Sense of Loss What to Do: Create “boundary” actions and events to mark your clean break to show your present is really different from your past Make an inventory of your losses by those you can reverse, replace, rebuild and relinquish Create a “ritual” to honor what’s being left behind and celebrate what’s moving with you	Behaviors: Withdrawal or disengagement from routine habits (even ones you enjoy) Active intention to be alone Inability to focus or stay on task Emotions: Confusion & Bewilderment Sense of overwhelm or paralysis Melancholy What to Do: Schedule time for the 3 S’s: Surrender, Silence and Solitude Assemble a support team Identify feelings you’re experiencing and given yourself permission to feel them Prioritize demands on your time and energy into Have To’s, Should Do’s, and Could Do’s
3 - Beginning	4 - Attainment
Emergence of new or significantly changed sense of self and personal identify	Complete integration of new identify and sense of self
Behaviors: Expressed excitement & support Willingness to try new things Increase energy and activity Emotions: Excitement Enthusiasm Renewed faith in your future What to Do: Recognize & reward desired behaviors Acknowledge progress Implement safeguards for preventing relapse of old behaviors Accept there will be a period of “mourning” for those things you’ve ended (positive or negative). Denial diminishes your enrichment!	Behaviors: Realistic lifestyle pace and activities Creation of new habits Predictable and consistent behavior and response to life circumstances Emotions: Contentment Inner peace and calm Sense of achievement What to Do: Identify “trigger” behaviors that tell you when you’re reverting to “old-you” behaviors Determine what “imprints” you want to “reprint” and how you will make that happen Increased your ability to listen and respond to your intuition