May 31 , 2022
Golden Gate Bridge San Francisco California
"Change is an event but a transition is a process you go through in response to the change."
William Bridges
We are headed into changes; school year ends, summer arrives, snowbirds return, graduations commence, relocations occur, vacations begin. Or perhaps bigger changes are in store. Change is usually fun, but often loaded with anxiety and unease. Changing routines and leaving familiar ground can make us feel unsafe, off balance and exposed .
Every transition is different, but they all provide opportunities to create a new blueprint, put forward a new persona, establish healthier rhythms, see with fresh eyes and renewed enthusiasm. During periods of uprooting and resettling we can discard what doesn't work and replace with what is effective.
My Mom always talked about the "roads of life." She hated change and loved the familiar. She was a deep thinker, systematic about her routines and appreciative of the paths she walked in life. Even difficult paths created interesting routines, introduced new people and provided focus and purpose. For someone so comfortable with the familiar, she embraced the new with openness and healthy skepticism. Mom postulated that for periods of time, life would settle into certain pathways or "roads of life" and upon major transitions, such as graduation, marriage, retirement, those familiar roads changed.
Awareness of personal patterns and making them empowering is a good skill. Transitions uproot us and destroy old networks, but we can create better roads and networks as we move into the new. Transitions facilitate establishing something better in our person, our routines, our relationships and everything in our life. This is true in both minor and major changes. Opportunity is present.
Prepaving is an excellent way to manage transitions. Prepaving means to look ahead and see how you would like the change to conclude. It means to see and feel the end result and the outcome you would like.
Numerous high performing people use this technique. Olympic Gold Skiier Jean Claude Killy would picture a ski run ahead of time and he would correct mistakes in his mind before the actual race. He mentally prepared skiing a smooth, winning race. Bobby Orr described visualizing hockey wins all the way to the finals and holding the Stanley Cup high at the championship win. Performance Expert Bob Kriegel states the importance of visualizing the desired end result for energy and enthusiasm, then returning to the present for focus and action.
This practice is important even in large scale disasters or transitions. Survivors see their way to the finish line. Visualize the future you desire. Envision the next step. See yourself surviving and thriving in any major catastrophe. Be a creator not a victim. Actively visualize the future you desire until it is easy to see in your mind. Then come back to the present and intuit your next step.
See the person you would like to be; calm, confident and relaxed; able to manage problems and handle crisis like James Bond. Imagine your new home with a smooth flow and easy routine. Picture your new life as one that supports your dreams, goals and authentic self. See yourself living in a vibrant world of interesting people that inspire and motivate you. Let these imaginings direct your actions. Whatever you wish, visualize it first. Feel what is easy, what is difficult and where the snags exist. Fix the problems in your mind. Mental practice directs your body, mind and spirit into effective channels of activity.
Many people surmise that life as we know it is in crisis and that apocalyptic events lie ahead. Being prepared for drastic change is important. We can prep our physical reality to handle a big crisis, but if we do not align our actions with our spiritual self, values and heart's desire; then we are playing into the hand of any dark agendas that may be brewing. Always be aware of creating from the light within, regardless of external circumstances. Anytime we create from fear, we lose. Fear is a good motivator, but it shouldn't control our choices.
Whether contemplating a change of the ages or simply a change of season, navigate from your highest self and greatest dreams. What we visualize directs us into channels.of success or failure whatever transpires. Ride the waves of emotion. Don't forget your heart. Anticipate challenges and prepave through snags, but cancel negative thinking. If you focus on creating your best life, it's what you will get, one way or another..
Soul of an Artist
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