Many religions and spiritual traditions tell us that the
One, the Absolute, the Spirit is changeless. That
everything comes from this one creative source. However,
the body of the universe -all the things created out of
that one source -including us-cannot help but change!
During our lives we encounter many changes and transitions.
What's the difference and how can you handle them with
grace?

William Bridges, in his book "The Way of Transition" said
that after his wife of many years died, he began to see how
personal transition can open up vistas that are rightly
called spiritual. He discovered a new understanding of
transition and new ways of helping people to find meaning
in it. He realized that discovering things about life
doesn't fit a neat pattern, but rather, you can discover
"truths" over and over through different angles.

He says most people don't resist change -they resist
transition. Change is a situational shift. For example,
moving to a new house is a change. Transition is the
process of letting go of the way things used to be and then
taking hold of the way they subsequently become. In
between the letting go and taking hold -there is a chaotic,
but potentially creative "neutral zone" when things aren't
the old way, but aren't really the new way yet either. So,
we see a three phase process to transition: ending,
neutral zone and beginning again. Without transition, a
change is mechanical, empty, and superficial. If
transition does not occur, or if it is begun but aborted,
people end up (mentally and emotionally) back where they
started, and the change doesn't work. In spite of the new
house or relationship nothing is really different.

We resist transition because it takes much longer than
change and leaves us in limbo, in that neutral zone while a
replacement reality and a new self is gradually being
formed. But believe it or not, the resulting state of
chaos is actually a fertile state, a creative state, a
state of pure energy and great potential. An outer loss is
a surrogate for some inner relinquishment that must be made
but is difficult to describe. What is it time to let go
of? Not so much the relationship or the job, but rather
the hopes, fears, dreams and beliefs we have attached to
them. You are likely to do better with the ending if you
honor the old life for all that it did for you.

Allow yourself time to grieve and/or honor the ending.
Allow plenty of time to sit in the neutral, sorting out
stage. When ready, begin to vision, go inside for guidance,
to start to catch an idea of what the new beginning will
look like. Then take action. And there you are -in your
new beginning. Embrace your changes and promise yourself
you'll fully experience the transition that your changes
bring. Take your time, honor yourself and your feelings and
get support through transitions. In the end, you will have
lived your life more fully and authentically.

About the Author:

Ann Ronan, Ph.D., RScP provides teaching, coaching and
writing to help others live authentic lives doing what they
most love. Receive her free e-course on the Top Ten Ways
to Live Authentically -register at
http://www.authenticlifeinstitute.com to begin this
step-by-step program today.