EMBRACING NEW BEGINNINGS: HOW DO YOU KNOW?

Imagine this: You’ve just started a new job a couple of months ago. You’re thrilled about your role, you get along great with your team, and you see countless opportunities to make a difference and grow as a leader. But how did you know you were ready to choose this path forward? Let’s dive into the signs that pointed you in the right direction:

• You had a clear and positive vision of your future, and it was amazing.
• You felt a strong sense of the leader you were meant to be.
• You started building new routines and habits that aligned with your goals and life.
• Opportunities that supported your goals began to appear everywhere.
• Your needs are being fulfilled, and you felt a renewed sense of energy and optimism.
• You were a bit nervous but also excited to get started.
• You were ready to leave the past behind, taking its lessons with you.

Congratulations! You’ve entered phase 3 – new beginnings – on your transition journey. This is a time when you recognize your path forward and fully integrate it into your lifestyle.

But what led you here? Let’s rewind a bit.

Phase 1 – Endings

Your journey began when your previous employer made staffing cuts, and your project, along with your job, was eliminated. In this phase, you had to unpack the change and its impact on you. Initially, you worried about paying the bills, and feelings of fear, panic, disappointment, and anger set in. You mourned the loss of your most prized leadership role to date and the high-performing team you had nurtured.

You worked through these emotions and accepted what happened. Reflecting on your past role and choices, you gained insights that paved the way for figuring out your future.

Phase 2 – Experimenting

Next up was exploring options and experimenting. You imagined your next role and asked yourself important questions: How do you want to show up as a leader? What are your superpowers and desired professional challenges? What problems do you want to solve? What impact do you want to have? What expectations do you have of a new employer?

With these answers, you set your goals and considered several options:

1. Launch a job search for the same level job in the same industry and geographic area. This posed the least risk but felt like “been there, done that.”
2. Launch a job search for a bigger leadership role in the same industry. You had been developing yourself for promotion, and people noticed. Why not go for the next big professional challenge?
3. Option 2 but in a new geographic location. This added the complexity of relocation and creating a new local group of friends, which could increase stress and distract you from your new job.
4. Change careers. A couple of careers appealed to you, and your sister-in-law recently made a big career shift making you feel optimistic. This option would require additional research before jumping into job search mode.

You decided to take on options 2 and 4 at the same time. For option 4, you started informational interviews with people in the careers you were considering. However, you quickly realized those jobs weren’t nearly as exciting as you initially thought. The effort to update your marketing materials to highlight your transferable skills and develop the requisite skills seemed daunting and time-consuming. Nor was it practical for short-term income needs. But you did note the skills you’d like to develop to make this option viable in the future.

Meanwhile, you focused on option 2 by updating your resume and starting to network. You were pleased with the interest and interviews it generated. Your dedication and hard work paid off, leading you to your new full-time role which you fully integrated into your lifestyle. Congratulations on successfully navigating your transition journey.

Beneficial Pearls of Wisdom

• While the transition journey flows via the three phases, the phases can blend into each other, and the associated emotions can swing like a pendulum.
• Life is full of transitions, and we may find ourselves in multiple phases simultaneously due to various changes that impact us.
• Despite their challenges, transitions offer opportunities for personal growth and resilience.
• Understanding the transition journey and its nuances, empowers us to recognize where we are and what we can do best move forward.

So, what have you noticed about your past transition journeys? What pearls of wisdom would you add to the list? Share your thoughts and let’s continue this conversation!

Carol Bergeron guides people through major life transitions with a focus on self-reflection, visualization, and collaboration. She helps clients adapt to personal and professional changes, especially when shaping modern retirement lifestyles, which involve emotional, social, lifestyle, and health-related shifts converging all at once.

Learn more about navigating life’s transitions; explore upcoming small group coaching programs: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/bergeron-associates-13715940172#collections

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