You’ve no doubt heard there are stages of grief, but did you know that there are also stages we go through when dealing with major life transitions? Lay off, divorce, illness…being aware of the process as we move through the stages is what leads us to being whole again. Trust in the process so that even when things get off course, we know things will indeed get better.
So here are 6 stages we go through even when it looks hopeless.
Loss – The loss of something important to us is typically what creates a transition in our lives. It’s normal and natural to feel loss and to grieve over what you no longer have. Whether it’s the loss of a job or a change in your loved one, allow yourself to feel the sadness that comes with loss. It’s part of the healing process.
Uncertainty – Once the overwhelming sense of sadness has passed, we move into uncertainty. What will our lives be like now? What can possibly fill the void that the loss has left in our lives? How can we move forward? Most of life is uncertain and allowing yourself to experience uncertainty, while not enjoyable, is an important part of the process that eventually leads us to the answers.
Discomfort – In the middle of uncertainty, we encounter discomfort. We like to know what’s going to happen next. We feel unsettled and insecure when we don’t know what to do next or where to turn. It’s a normal part of the transitioning process that ensures we don’t stay in a self-defeating stage indefinitely.
Understanding – What starts as a glimmer of hope now becomes a full- fledged understanding of how our lives can change for the better. We start to make plans and goals that will get us to the new life awaiting us. We may even start to understand why the loss we suffered could end up being one of the best things that could have possibly happened.
Vision – Finally, we start to feel the sun break through the clouds. Perhaps we come to some realization that what we’ve lost can be replaced with something better. Now that we’ve gotten through the worst of it, we can make new choices that lead us to a happier life that can be more fulfilling and purposeful than we had before.
Action – in the final stage, we begin to integrate the ideas and plans we’ve made into our lives. We start to really feel alive and excited about the new adventures in store for us. We begin to take action steps that will get us to where we now know we want to go.
Do you recognize any of these stages? Do you feel yourself going through any right now?
I’d love to know. Comment below.