1-Minute Wednesday No. 158: Smoothing the Transitions of Your Life

How much of your life is spent in transitions?

In a recent study for his book Life is in the Transitions, author Bruce Feiler found that, on average, people will go through 3-5 major transitions after reaching adulthood. The average length people spend in these transitions is 5 years. This means half our adult life will be spent in transition. (1)

That information was a bit of a shock for me. But it rings true.

Change and transition are uncomfortable for all of us, but because so much of our life is spent in transition, if we don’t learn to embrace and navigate them, we will miss out on much of our life. 

So how can you make transitions smoother?

1. Recognize and Name the transition you are going through: Recognizing that you are in a transition can help you know what to expect and not be so discouraged when parts of the change are difficult or uncomfortable. 
2. Give yourself space and grace during the transition: We know changes bring challenges, so build in buffer to help you handle them. Set aside more downtime to rest, relax, and sort out any feelings you may have. Create more time for things you enjoy doing. 
3. Realize in transitions, you must protect the asset: Remember, you are the asset in your own life. Prioritizing the essential things and finding an effortless way to achieve those things will help smooth the transition and keep you focused on what really matters. 

In a world of unpredictability, we should expect the unexpected to be a guaranteed guest. But it is possible to find stability as we recognize and prepare for the unexpected. 

(1) Feiler, B.S. (2020). Life Is in the Transitions : Mastering Change at Any Age. Penguin Publishing Group.

Listen

The Greg McKeown Podcast

Don't miss my conversation with Anna McKeown as she shares how she has gone from struggling with transitions to becoming masterful in handling them. Discover how you can better understand what makes transitions challenging and what you can do to cope better with them immediately.

You can listen here

Learn

The Clocklike Regularity of Major Life Changes

In this article, Arthur C. Brooks explores how to face and lean into the inevitability of the transitions in our life. Discover how you can learn to use these uncomfortable periods of change for personal growth, ultimately helping you reach your full potential. 

Read the article here

Weekly Wisdom

“Not in his goals but in his transitions man is great.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

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