The following question is from The Reflective Journal by Barbara Bassot, Part 1, Theme 1.1 Starting Something New.
“Describe your recent experiences of transition. Have you experienced any of Bridges’ (2004) stages? If so, which ones stand out in your memory? Are there any that do not seem appropriate to your situation?”
tran·si·tion | \ tran(t)-ˈsi-shən , tran-ˈzi-, chiefly British tran(t)-ˈsi-zhən \
1a: passage from one state, stage, subject, or place to another: CHANGE
b: a movement, development, or evolution from one form, stage, or style to another
For much of my life, I resisted change. “Change is hard,” as the saying goes. There is a perceived sense of control, after all, that comes with familiarity and routine. But the passing of time and evolving circumstances in my life have helped me understand and appreciate that life is continually in transition. Nothing ever stays the same. Some major mind-shifting was required to move me from a space of fearing transition to welcoming it. But just as there is great beauty to be found in the gradual evolution of summer’s lush green foliage to the brilliant gold and auburn hues of autumn, moving from one “reality” to the next can bring a fresh perspective, unknown opportunities, and great joy.
William Bridges describes transition as being made up of three stages: endings, the neutral zone, and new beginnings. At the start of Summer 2019, I transitioned to a new position at Penn State. My experience included elements of all three stages, to varying degrees.
endings
I think it is impossible to begin a new phase in life without carrying an awareness of what has been left behind. In my case, I was leaving behind people, processes, and places that had become very dear and familiar over 5 1/2 years in my previous position. It was important to let the people I was leaving behind know how much they had meant to me. I picked up my pen and wrote goodbye letters to each of them. I found myself lurking on my old office’s Slack channel more often than I probably should have. And their texts and emails brought me comfort. This was despite the fact that my transition was one that I had initiated in the hopes of launching a new chapter in my life. But this period of honoring endings was very important to me and helped me gradually move toward the second period of transition, the neutral zone.
the neutral zone
The first couple of months of my new employment left me in a state of limbo – both literally and figuratively. My new office was shuffling workspaces, so I did not have a true place of my own for the first couple of months. During that limbo stage, my belongings from my previous office lived in boxes in my bedroom while I either worked from my cramped apartment or from a cleared out space in my boss’s office. I was learning what my new responsibilities would be but was not yet fully responsible for them. I had a whole new culture to begin to understand. The processes in this new space were similar, but the details were definitely different. Much of the summer was spent in a state of dis-ease.
Yet, I strove to find peace in the neutral zone. My yoga practice informs my approach to life – always searching for ways to balance the challenges with strength and grace. Gratitude also played a big role in padding the neutral zone. I reminded myself frequently of the many opportunities this new position had brought me. As I choreographed this “dance” through the summer of limbo, I found myself feeling increasingly more steady and grounded as I neared the start of the fall semester.
new beginnings
As the first leaves of autumn began their transition from green to gold, my transition to my new position gradually began to feel like a new beginning. I found my space, both literally and figuratively, in my new workplace. My understanding of processes and policies was deepening. I could walk through the halls of my building and encounter familiar, friendly faces. I felt like I was beginning to contribute meaningfully to my group. The transition from one job to another had moved into a more grounded space.
Moving through these stages of transition pushed me to the edges of my comfort zone. But I truly believe that is the space that provides the most opportunity for personal growth and development. We have a choice in these unsteady moments of transition. We can leave the dance floor, or flail around and grab for anything that looks familiar. Or, we can remind ourselves of our inherent strength and grace and navigate times of transition with gratitude and a commitment to being present with all that is – the difficult endings, the unsteady new surroundings, and the unfolding opportunities.
I say, let’s dance.
Bassot, B. (2016). The reflective journal. Palgrave Macmillan.
Bridges, W. (2004). Transitions: Making sense of life’s changes. Da Capo Lifelong Books.