Walking Through That Open Door Making Sense of Life’s Transitions

Who Are We? David Riley Carol Nichols age 32 age 27 age 32 age 27

What do you hope to gain from this workshop? workshop?

Our Goals Understand that transition is a normal process with recognizable phases Understand that transition is a normal process with recognizable phases Recognize how you have dealt with transition in the past Recognize how you have dealt with transition in the past Formulate some ways to cope with transitions in your life and even to allow it to transform you Formulate some ways to cope with transitions in your life and even to allow it to transform you View transition from a faith perspective, as a way to new life and growth View transition from a faith perspective, as a way to new life and growth

Primary Sources William Bridges Elizabeth Harper Neeld

What is Transition? Transition is the process of letting go of the way things used to be and then taking hold of the way they have become. Transition is the way that we respond to, and come to terms with change. Transition is the process of making meaning in the changes that happen to us or that we cause. William Bridges

Bridges’ Phases Letting go of the old Neutral Zone Embracing the New Reality

Why do we resist transition? It takes longer than change It takes longer than change It sets up resonance between present and painful past. It sets up resonance between present and painful past. Overwhelmed Overwhelmed

Rules for Understanding Rule #1: In transition you find yourself coming back in new ways to old activities

Rule #2 Every transition begins with an ending.

Endings Sudden unexpected event Sudden unexpected event “drying up” of a situation or relationship that once felt vital “drying up” of a situation or relationship that once felt vital An activity that always went well goes badly An activity that always went well goes badly A person or organization breaks trust A person or organization breaks trust An unforeseen problem crops up at the worst possible time. An unforeseen problem crops up at the worst possible time.

Aspects of Endings Disengagement Disengagement Disidentification Disidentification Disenchantment Disenchantment Disorientation Disorientation

Personal Stories of Transitions CarolDave

Name a transition that you are currently going through, one that you recently went through, or one that you are planning to undertake. Where are you in the process at this point? What has changed in you?

Rule #3 Although it is helpful to understand our style of doing endings, there is a part of us that will resist that understanding. Although it is helpful to understand our style of doing endings, there is a part of us that will resist that understanding.

Kinds of Changes Loss of relationship Loss of relationship Changes in Home Life Changes in Home Life Personal Changes Personal Changes Work and Financial Changes Work and Financial Changes

What is the Purpose of Transition? Reorientation of the Self Reorientation of the Self Personal Growth Personal Growth Authenticity Authenticity Creativity Creativity Spirituality Spirituality

Renewal and Rebirth: Transformation Transformation

Tough Transitions: Navigating Your Way Through Difficult Times

Navigating Tough Transitions An orientation map:

Navigating Tough Transitions Responding

Reviewing What can I know? What should I do? What may I hope?

Navigating Tough Transitions Reviewing Reviewing Where is/was God?

Navigating Tough Transitions Reorganizing

Three strategies for exploring who I need to be: Three strategies for exploring who I need to be: 1.Look at others. What works? 2.Ask, “What would I do differently from the past? 3.For what can I be grateful?

Navigating Tough Transitions Renewing

Creative and Victorious Outcomes Ability to feel joy Ability to feel joy Capacity for empathy Capacity for empathy New Appreciation for people and things New Appreciation for people and things Renewed relationship with God Renewed relationship with God Freedom to be more authentic Freedom to be more authentic

Navigating Tough Transitions Recovering a sense of humor Recovering a sense of humor Hope as vision, as trust, as absolute Hope as vision, as trust, as absolute

At some point you have to realize that some people can stay in your heart, but not in your life. At some point you have to realize that some people can stay in your heart, but not in your life. Unknown Source

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle Albert Einstein

We die on the day when our lives cease to be illuminated by the steady radiance, renewed daily, of a wonder the source of which is beyond all reason. Dag Hammarskjold