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Just as surely as we live, something changes. Life is a constant flow of change. There is no escaping this fact. Our lives are characterized by a series of transitions with each one bringing to us new challenges and new opportunities. Sometimes these transitions unfold smoothly, like the careful renovation of a well-established store, where each adjustment enhances functionality and customer satisfaction. Other times, these changes can be akin to navigating through the temporary chaos of construction—a process marked by dust and noise, yet necessary to pave the way for future improvements. This article, we will explore the challenges associated with navigating life phase transitions and provide strategies for resolving problems and reorienting ourselves to help reduce stress and create a fulfilling future.
Life is Beautiful, Life is Stressful
I remember the first time I encountered the word, eustress and I immediately thought, "Okay now y'all are just making words up." But nope. It is a real thing. Eustress is the name for good stress. Now if you are like I was, you may be thinking, "How the heck is stress ever good?" You can thank Hans Selye for this madness. Distress of course is the unhealthy bad form of stress that can harm our well-being. Whereas eustress is the opposite end of the spectrum. It refers to positive stress from stimulating challenges that promote growth, achievement, and fulfillment. Eustress energizes us and motivates us to make positive changes. For example, ask any new parent about the joy they experienced when they found out they were expecting (either through pregnancy or adoption). The excitement of becoming new parents is soon met with the realization that some changes have to be made in order to rise to the challenge of parenthood. Another example would be changing jobs or careers. The opportunity is so new and exciting yet there is the realization of changes in pay, pay structure, benefits, and learning a new team of coworkers and managers. Both of these life transitions can represent beautiful new beginnings and stress, the good kind though. But while basking in the quote, unquote "good stress" we also acknowledge that it is the other kind of stress that overbearingly permeates our thinking and negatively impacts our ability to adjust and cope. These include things such as work stress, financial worries, health concerns, relationship issues or conflict, grief and loss, loneliness, and uncertainty about the future. We'd could probably add so many more stressors to this, but in doing so we'd turn what is supposed to be a short article into a 99 plus page book. I won't keep you here focused on problems. So, what are some solutions for phase of life problems and transitions that can fit a variety of stressors? We'll identify four.
What Needs Changing?
Imagine your life as a well-stocked store. Just as a store manager meticulously counts and assesses each item on the shelves, we must carefully examine and catalog our challenges. This means identifying every problem we face, understanding their impact and why they lead to dissatisfaction, categorizing them by urgency and severity (like marking down expiring goods), and even discarding issues that have become irrelevant (outdated marketing flyers).  By regularly taking inventory of our problems, we maintain a clear understanding of our mental and emotional landscape, ensuring we are better equipped to address our challenges effectively and create a more balanced life. Now even though a store manager knows their store and the goods therein, they still utilize some sort of ledger (whether paper or electronic) to record their inventory. For this tip, it is important that you too write down your inventory findings. If you don't have a journal, you can head on over to Amazon and order one. I am including an affiliate link to the "TREE" vintage Leather Journal Notebook. I happen to have a thing for trees as they symbolize growth and steadfastness; and this journal is hardcover leather. However, whichever journal you get, make sure it is appealing to your eyes and unique to your personality to increase your enjoyment in grabbing it and writing in it.
Schedule Renovations in Phases
Implementing life changes over time can be likened to remodeling a store. Just as a store undergoes a transformation to better meet the needs of its customers and improve its overall functionality, we must periodically renovate our lives to align with our evolving goals and circumstances. From our previous step, we have already taken inventory of the things that are present in your life that contributes to your dissatisfaction, stress, or frustration. We now know all the things that need to be modified as we work to renovate and restore balance to your life. Planning is the next crucial step. During the remodeling phase, there might be temporary disruptions and inconveniences, just as construction dust and noise are inevitable in a store makeover. However, these challenges are necessary to pave the way for improvements. We might need to discard old habits and patterns that no longer serve us, akin to removing outdated displays and fixtures. None of these occur over night. So, it is very important to be patient with ourselves.
What's Missing from Your Store Shelves?
Now we turn our focus to what is missing. Introducing new elements, such as healthier routines, better time management practices, or new skills, parallels installing modern equipment and attractive displays that draw in customers. What do you wish were present in your life that you believe would increase your sense of fulfillment? When I think and reflect on this one, I find that having a deeper sense of purpose and alignment in my daily activities helps to elevate my mental and emotional wellbeing. I crave engaging work that challenges me intellectually and aligns with my core values and principles. I crave more meaningful relationships, being part of a close-knit community, and having a sense of belonging and security. I love making money, being productive, and learning new skills and new things about the world around me. Last but definitely not least, I crave a balanced lifestyle; I like work and play but I also need sufficient rest. Now this is my list for my store shelves. What do you want more of on your store shelves?
Hire the Right Team
Transitions sometimes force isolation or solitude. That could be due to a transition that requires that you move to a new city or switch to a new job. That could be due to a transition caused by undergoing grief and loss. Please remember though, healing and growth do not occur in isolation. Brief moments alone to regroup are okay. However, do not fall into the trap of decreasing contact or self-isolating. We all need support. It is in our human nature. Make sure you have the right team onboard. This may require that you step outside of your comfort zone. Join a community, recreational, or educational group. Become active at church, mosque, synagogue. Take formal education classes. Enroll in an exercise, yoga, or Pilates, group. Join a hobby or support group. Find your tribe where you can not only increase positive self-identity through activities that reduce isolation but also share any struggles related to current adjustment stress.
Life is a constant dance between the beautiful and the stressful, the familiar and the unknown. Phase of life transitions, however daunting, offer an opportunity to re-evaluate, reorient, and build a life that aligns with your evolving needs. When you take inventory of your challenges, tackle them with a strategic renovation approach, and seek support from your support team, you can navigate life transitions with resilience. Change is inevitable; but through planning, self-care, and focus on what truly matters, you can transform your life into a space that fosters both growth and fulfillment. But please remember that wherever you are on this wellness journey, do not worry about getting it perfect; just get it going. Until next time. Happy reading!
Affiliate Links to Follow: |
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"Life is about change, sometimes it's painful, sometimes it's beautiful, but most of the time it's both." ~Kristin Kreuk
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