Life seems to be full of transitions. We often focus on talking about various transitions for children- starting school, holiday breaks from school, moving from school into summer, and so on in cyclical fashion. Those conversations are often celebrated, regarded as things to look forward to. As we grow older, we talk about the big ones- getting married, starting new jobs or advancing in careers, building families. What we don’t talk about are the smaller scale ones that happen all throughout our lives, or the fact that transitions can bring anxiety, sadness, and melancholy along with joy. I’m often reminded of this when we move through the seasons or the school calendar.
For parents, each transition in and out of the school year means not only are your children getting older and growing, but you are as well. Or if you’re not a parent, each rotation around the sun (or birthdays of friends and family) might provoke the same feelings. They pull on our existential side because they highlight the reality of our mortality.
Struggling with a change or a transition can challenge our ability to cope effectively, especially if we perceive or have limited or no control over the change. While you may not be able to avoid a change or transition completely, here are a few things you can try to help ease yourself through the experience:
- Maintain your routine or create a new routine if the change or transition requires it and stick to that routine.
- There’s comfort in numbers- connect with others who are going through similar transitions or experiences.
- Practice the concept of loving kindness and giving yourself grace – it is okay and typical to experience the variety of emotions that come with changes.
- Pick out if there are parts of the change or transition that you can have some control over and exercise control there. For some changes or transitions, the only control you may have is over yourself.
- Build in time for distraction to do something you enjoy or that replenishes you.
And, as always, If you feel that you would benefit from working through life’s transitions with the help of a counselor, please reach out to us! You can write to us or find our phone number on the “Contact” page.