If you are reading this, you may be going through a life or work transition … or maybe both. Or maybe you are reading this because you are on the edge of a major transition or you are supporting someone who is. Transitions, while fleeting, can feel so BIG. They take so much time, space, and energy they almost become an entity of their own. But much like pop-up shops, they are not here to stay but do have a purpose. They have something to tell us and show us, and, if we are willing to listen, we just may walk away with an important message to guide our next chapter.
In my counseling room, I have cheekily used a phrase for which Benjamin Franklin is most frequently quoted, which is “there is nothing certain except death and taxes”. This may be off-putting for some, so I usually tune into my audience before saying this. The point I usually make is outside of change, the only things guaranteed in life are these two things. I think change should be worked into a modernized version of this statement. Whether it is or is not updated, change is an inevitable truth for all of us, whether we choose it or not.
We each have a different relationship with change, and I describe mine through a fateful interview on A Change Mindset dated back to January 2023 foretelling a tale of changing my life, career, and intimate relationship. Jennifer becomes a coach - A Change Mindset - Apple Podcasts. I hinted at a major career change at the end of this podcast episode before I told my leaders in tech what I was imagining for myself. Spoiler alert: Three years later, and, after graduating with my master’s in counseling from Northwestern University, launching my private counseling practice under supervision, and preparing to cross the stage in Evanston, IL to commemorate this moment, I have a lot of transitions to reflect on myself with memories, thoughts, feelings, and actions that may spark what may be beneath what is happening for you or others in your life right now.
What roles have I assumed or taken on in the last 20 years? MBA. Homeowner. Tech employee. Spouse. Expat. Parent. Coach. Business owner. Divorcee. Tech leader. Partner. Counseling student. MA. LMHCA. I’m still an MBA, parent, coach, business owner, divorcee, and partner. I am no longer a homeowner, spouse, expat, tech employee / leader, or counseling student. I am a new MA in Counseling and LMHCA. I will always and forever be a change agent. Change has not always been easy, but it has always been worth it.
Gains and losses are a natural part of the development process, and we may experience a mix of emotions along the way, sometimes all at once, as we examine shifts in our sense of self, identity, and support. We may feel excitement, disappointment, joy, anxiety, fear, and grief among many other emotions that may arise in a time of change. This space in between what was and what is allows us to integrate various parts of ourselves along the journey of becoming something new. Pausing to reflect on our experiences and intentionally choosing what we’re taking with us, leaving behind, and adopting can be a helpful part of this integration process.
Wherever you are in the change process for yourself or in support of others, I am here to help. Change can feel challenging, but you can get through it. It may feel difficult, and you and your loved ones are capable of getting to the other side. It may not always be what we imagined, but it is something we can make our own and make meaning along the way.