Dear College of Education Community,
Transitions are common as we end one year and begin a new one. We may be saying goodbye to some wonderful experiences that may never be quite the same again. And we could be letting go of some stressful times with bittersweet relief and transitioning toward future experiences which are currently unknown. So how do we navigate transitions? In an article in Mindful entitled “Finding Your Way Forward When the Path Is Not Clear” Dr. Jeremy Hunter, Founding Director of the Executive Mind Leadership Institute in Claremont, CA., states, “Instead of seeing time as a straight line, if we see life as a series of cycles of growth, maturation, and death followed by rebirth, we can better understand why endings are necessary for new beginnings.” He further offers, “The ground beneath your feet may be shifting, but mindfulness can help you find your way forward with skill and passion.” Dr. Hunter recommends that to help find your way, “Ask yourself these questions as you contemplate how you move through change and transition. It may help you to make note of your answers in writing.“
- Pick a significant change in your life. What transition took place as a result?
- Do you have a pattern in how you deal with endings? Do you just keep moving or make space to mourn or acknowledge what was lost? Do you accept that something or someone has passed?
- What endings are incomplete?
- How can you create a way to bring closure to unfinished business?
- How do you handle sensations of discomfort in transitions?
- What happens when you lessen your resistance and increase acceptance to not knowing?
- Try new things, go to new places, meet new people, learn new skills as if you’re trying on new clothes, asking, “Does this feel right?”
- Create a system of support. Sense what enjoyment or being refreshed feels like in the body. What do you know now that you didn’t before?
To find out more about transitioning, go to https://www.mindful.org/the-scary-winding-road-through-change/
For a list of other self-care options, you can also go to our COE self-care website for resources for faculty, staff, students, and the community at https://www.csun.edu/eisner-education/self-care/articles-information-self-care
May we all find ways to transition successfully to new experiences.
Warmly,
Shari