What’s the Difference Between Change & Transition?

 

Change ~

Change is inevitable.

Change happens outside of us and is visible to others.

It creates the need to adapt from the way things used to be to the way they are now.

Examples are starting a new job, moving to another location, becoming a parent. 

It’s also a natural part of development from childhood to adolescence and all throughout adulthood. It unfolds naturally and over time.

 

Transition ~

Transition is the internal process of adapting to new situations. 

Transition is also the internal process that inspires us to create the changes in our outer world that correspond to our inner evolvement, our ever-evolving process, our ever-evolving inner self.

Transitions impact the psychological, emotional, and physical journey we experience while adapting to the changes in our lives. 

 

Transition can happen quickly or slowly. It is the process of leading up to, navigating through, and successfully adapting from the old to the new. 

In the process, we are transformed. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The End:

Every change starts with an ending. This stage marks the closing of one chapter and the beginning of another.

 

Feelings range from disillusionment to disengagement and disorientation.

Disorientation breeds uncertainty.

Uncertainty can feel unnerving.

 

This stage is fraught with elements of impending change. It is rarely enjoyable but meaningful in retrospect.

Our central nervous system feels less calm and is more easily triggered.

 

The Middle - The Wilderness - Neutral Zone:

 

Similar to a rite of passage, this phase invites surrender, exploration,

and integration.

 

The New Beginning:

 

Once we move through the exploration process of the Wilderness, we begin to get familiar with our next chapter, the New Beginning. 

 

The End stage is not discarded once we reach our New Beginning. The End Stage is the steppingstone that has brilliantly led us to our new chapter. 

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Let’s explore what happens in the Middle Zone, the bridge to the next chapter.

 

The Middle Zone is similar to rites of passage in primitive tribes:

 

• The initiate is sent into the Wilderness.

• The Wilderness is where they discover who they are and what they're capable of.

• The Wilderness is where the individual learns to find their own way.

• Return from the Wilderness reintegrates them into the tribe with their own unique tools and sense of significance.

 

The purpose of the middle/wilderness/neutral zone is:

 

• To Acknowledge the sense of uncertainty and how it’s impacting your life.

• To Surrender to the impending changes.

• To TRUST the process and be willing to explore..

• To Explore who you are at this stage of life.

  • What do you stand for?

  • What’s meaningful to you?

• To Develop a wider perspective.

  • What direction do you want to take your life going forward?

• To Recalibrate the new perspective into goal setting and a manageable plan.

• To Integrate the new perspective and plan into tangible action steps.

 

The unresolved wounds of the Inner Child are often activated and brought to the surface in the Wilderness stage.

 

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 You mean my nervous system is all out of sorts?

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Activation of the Nervous System:

 

Even when changes feel exciting and happy, feelings of uncertainty will arise when we step beyond our safety zone. Feelings of stress are signals that our nervous system feels activated. Fear and survival mode shut us off, physically, mentally, and emotionally. It’s a sense of shrinking and closing ourselves off from the world around and within us.

 

This means that acclimating to and moving through the wilderness stage calls for skills to calm our nervous system when we’re feeling activated. A calm state opens us to a sense of exploration and creativity. And it’s our sense of exploration, creativity and self-knowing that guide us into our next chapter.

 

Signs of being activated:

• heartrate increases

• breath becomes more shallow

• disorientation

• confusion

 

Activation Recovery:

• Plan

  • Develop multiple tools for self-soothing after stretching beyond your comfort zone.

  • If the stretch beyond the comfort zone is self-imposed, create preparations for recovery from overwhelm.

• Stretch

  • Stretch beyond your comfort zone.

  • This will happen all throughout life, either by choice or outside circumstances.

• Awareness

  • Your body is your true barometer.

  • Pay close attention to what you feel within your physical body in addition to your thoughts and feelings.

  • Take stock of how you’re feeling and what led to feeling this way.

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• Recovery

  • Ask yourself what you need in order to feel safety.

  • Provide that for yourself.

  • Nurture and take care of yourself as you would a child.

  • Allow time and space to recover from the stretch before

  • extending yourself outwards again.

 

If we don’t move from Activation to Recovery, the activation cycle continues to build within our body, mind, and spirit. This ultimately takes a toll on our mental, emotional, and physical states. If we plow through upheaval without allowing space to recuperate, we will become increasingly depleted.

 

Again, the body is your true barometer. And if you ignore feeling depleted, if you override self-care, your body will respond with outcries in varying degrees.

  

A Summary of Self-Care for our Beloved Nervous System:

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The key is to move through changes incrementally whenever possible.

• Expand beyond your comfort zone.

• Assess your experience,

• Be accepting of how you feel.

• Allow yourself the opportunity to recover.

 

When we calm our mind, we’re able to move from a state of reaction to a state of exploration and creation.

 

The key point is that our thoughts and perceptions create our feelings. We are unable to tap into this state of creativity when activated. Therefore, It’s important to develop ways to calm our nervous systems while navigating major changes.

 

This practice will help to widen your comfort zone, helping you to keep moving forward and exploring exciting new opportunities and ventures rather than feeling overwhelmed and retreating.

 

Once we calm the nervous system, we can step more deeply into exploring that Wild and Wooly Wilderness Stage!

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Tools for Navigating the Wilderness:

 

• Breathing techniques – this is deliberately placed at the top of the list.

• Meditate – and this is also deliberately placed at the top of the list.

• Be present.

• Gratitude

• Acceptance

• What do I want? 

• Comfort the ego and inner child. 

• Acknowledge your accomplishments.

• Record special and aha moments.

• Small inspirations and Inspired action

• Snippets of focused action

• Have fun!

• Tap into what fills you with joy. 

 

Clarity intensifies and the New Beginning is in Sight!

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The New Beginning:

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Once we move through the exploration process of the Wilderness, we begin to get familiar with our next chapter, the New Beginning.

 

The End stage is not discarded once we reach our New Beginning. The End Stage is the steppingstone that has brilliantly led us to our new chapter

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Who we were at the beginning of the transition process is an important stepping stone in our ongoing evolution.

It remains part of the tapestry of experiences that continue to be woven into who we are. 

 

• Old and new experiences are integrated into the current version of who we are.

• Uncertainty decreases.

• Confidence increases. 

• This cycle continues throughout our lives. 

 

In summary:

 

• Acknowledge and accept feelings of discomfort and uncertainty.  

• Your body is your true barometer. 

  • It will let you know when your off or on track.

• Our thoughts create our feelings. 

• Shift old perceptions (reactions) to create new pathways for our next chapters.

• Fear and confusion can be replaced with a feeling of excitement and adventure.

 

Coping Skills for The New Beginning:

• Accept that change is a normal part of life. Change is inevitable.

• Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.

• Acknowledge what you are leaving behind. This is the first step to accepting the new. 

• Get support when needed. 

• Keep some things consistent. 

• Identify your values and life goals. 

• Set short-term goals to move through uncertainty. 

• Identify and express your feelings. 

• Focus on your previous successful transitions and accomplishments. 

• Think positive. Think opportunity.

• Don’t be in a rush. 

• Expect to feel uncomfortable. 

  • A time of transition is confusing and disorienting.

  • It is normal to feel insecure and anxious. 

  • These feelings are part of the process, and they will pass.

• Avoid self-medicating. 

• Exercise.

• Eat well.

• Rest. 

• Go out in sunlight and nature.

• Laugh.

• Play. 

• Practice present moment mindfulness – throughout your day.  – Eckhart

• Practice gratitude – throughout your day

• Small inspirations – follow your curiosity and be creative.

• Take one step at a time.

• Have realistic timeframes and expectations. 

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Navigating transition is similar to rock climbing. Before you move one hand to a new handhold, make sure that your weight is supported by your other hand and your feet. 

 

The same concept applies in personal growth. Use whatever stability you have in other areas of life when you’re approaching a major transition. 

 

If you take one thing at a time, you’ll build confidence in your ability to initiate and complete challenging but good course corrections. You’ll approach the next change from a position of even greater strength and fulfillment. 

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*Source: merriam-webster.com and dictionary.com