As I wrap up our quick three-part series on William Bridges’ Managing Transitions, we’ve made it through the ending and the neutral zone and now find ourselves launching a new beginning.
Two insights popped off the page for me in this section of his book:
- To ease transitions to a new beginning, “help people paint a picture of what the new outcome will look and feel like.” Music to my ears! This is what reimagining your next chapter is all about — if you can’t visualize it or describe it in detail, you’re not only less likely to achieve it, but it’s way harder to get excited about it. (I appreciated his reminder that painting the picture is not enough by itself make the transition happen though…)
- “There is no fruit which is not bitter before it is ripe” ~Publilius Syrus. This one hit me hard enough that I suspect it requires little more to be said. It takes such discernment to read the signals accurately and know if something is a bad idea or just “underripe!”
Where I live, it’s a season of launching — programs, kids — and I trust that in the midst of it, you’ll be able to sort out where your own readiness does or does not match the current date on a calendar.
Photo by Jacqueline O’Gara on Unsplash