Embracing Transition
Over the past four years, I’ve gotten pretty good at packing. I can pack a 3-4 day bag in 5 minutes, sleep just about anywhere, and navigate I-69 like a pro. When I went to college, I don’t think I quite understood the kind of transitioning I would be doing. Moving in and out of dorms, being home for summers and breaks, and COVID-19 made transitions a regular thing. It wasn’t easy though. It took me 2 years to really feel like I had a solid community at college and then COVID-19 happened. Now, I have graduated and am ready to move to South Carolina, another transition. I will have to develop a new community, 11 hours from home. I’m exhausted with moving, but it’s good to embrace where you’re at, even in times of transition.
Transition comes with periods of change. It starts with the end of what currently is, moves into the transitional period, and then the beginning of something new. The end of what currently is can bring about so many emotions, especially if you don’t like change. It can feel scary, stressful, confusing, and sad. However, good emotions like excitement and anticipation can come as you think about what’s next (Christian, 2020). I’ve been processing the end of my undergrad career. I am so sad to not be around my friends and what feels familiar. It’s stressful moving 11 hours away, but I am also so excited for SC. The transitional period is the funky part. You don’t feel quite done with the end, but you aren’t in the new part either. This can also feel confusing or scary. Some may feel overwhelmed, uncertain, and unbalanced (Christian, 2020). For me, this transition is the summer. I’m not in Muncie anymore, but I’m not in SC either. I’m riding the wave until it’s time to move. At times, I feel overwhelmed or uncertain as we make plans, pack, etc. I sometimes worry about what’s to come and what I’m leaving behind. The final stage is the beginning of something new. There may still be some leftover feelings from the previous stages, but there is also hope, excitement, and energy towards what’s next (Christian, 2020). This will be once I move to SC.
Transition and change is hard, but it grows and pushes us. There are a few ways that can be helpful in navigating change and transition. First, as always, allow yourself to feel any emotions that come - accept them, talk about them, and let them go. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed when you’re changing schools, moving a town over, going to college, etc. Secondly, have a solid support system when you go through change. It’s hard when you have to go through something alone, so who can you go to or ask to be there with you during this time? Also, keep your creative juices flowing. When you allow yourself to be creative, you can help release those emotions in a positive, healthy way (Christian, 2020). Could you draw, paint, garden, run, etc.? Overall, transition is difficult, but if we can learn to embrace it, how much easier would it be?
Reference: Christian, L. (2020). Embracing Change: How to Move Forward. SoulSalt. Retrieved from https://soulsalt.com/embracing-change/.
Challenges/Points:
Change is an inevitable, natural part of life.
There are three parts to change: the end of something, the transition, and the new beginning.
If you are in any stage of a transition, try to integrate one of the points discussed. Can you allow yourself to feel overwhelmed or excited? What hobby can you do to relax?
Questions:
Are you in a time of transition or change right now?
Do you feel more positive or negative emotions when it comes to change?
Do you have someone you could reach out to during change?
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