WHEN THINGS FALL APART

We might not like it... But, according to "Life is in the Transitions: Mastering Change" by Bruce Feiler, transitions and disruptions occur around every 12-18 months. Feiler reports that about one in ten disruptions becomes a "lifequake," or massive transition. Such as a serious illness or accident, divorce, career change, job loss, or death. Ugh! These lifequakes will happen three to five times in a person's life, last an average of five years, and result in spending roughly half of one's adult life in transition. Transitions are part and parcel of our human journey.

Tools, tips, and insights for understanding, facing, and mastering life transitions:

1. Give yourself the grace to wallow and feel the feels. Then, buckle down, dance, hug, and journal!

2. When you feel stuck, try something different.

3. Point your attention and time toward a goal or dream worth playing for.

4. Learn how transitions can be meaning-making exercises –when we are willing.

5. Know that sometimes the best ideas and outcomes come from the worst of times.

6. Practice gratitude and self-compassion.

7. Cultivate a beginner's mind amidst uncertainty.

8. Seek wisdom from friends, family, or a professional, including life coaching.

"When we resist change, it's called suffering. But when we can completely let go and not struggle against it, when we can embrace the groundlessness of our situation and relax into its dynamic quality, that's called enlightenment." – Pema Chödrön