Why Transition is a Good Thing (even if it’s uncomfortable)

 

{transition: the process of changing from one state or condition to another}

When I thought of the theme of "transition" for the month of January, it wasn't just because of it was the beginning of the year. I'm going through a personal transition as I let go of some freelance jobs, started a day job, and re-allocate time to work on building my creative skills and business.

There's a transition as schedules change, activities change, sleep habits change.  I need to become more disciplined with my time and yet not become a workaholic. Some things need to stay and other things that are good (but not great) need to leave.

I want to recognize the change that is going on; take note that the discomfort of transition brings wanted, desirable results.

Check out the synonyms the word 'transition' goes with: passage, move, transformation, metamorphosis, alteration, progress, changeover, evolution.

I especially love the synonyms 'passage,' 'transformation,' and 'metamorphosis.' It reminds me of the passing of nature's seasons, the metamorphosis of a monarch butterfly, and the transformation that occurs when a dabbling at something turns in to a discipline revealing true art.

I wrote Bake, Blog, Build last year after studying the lives of several famous women entrepreneurs in the world of food. They all went through huge transitions multiple times in their creative lives. Women like Dorie Greenspan (my very favorite living baker) was working on her phD in gerontology when she decided (after a trip to Paris no less) that she was going to trade in a doctorate for a chefs cap, with no formal schooling, mind you.

Can you imagine Dories' phone call to her mom? Mom, guess what, I'm making a career change. No, no, not for a nurse practioner. No, not a psychologist. I'm going to bake professionally and write cookbooks.

Silence.

Mom?

I have no idea how that phone call went down. I do know Dorie worked hard and long to become a baking professional- all without school. It was a bumpy road, especially at the beginning, but ultimately she wrote cookbooks for Julia Child and won a James Beard award (equivalent to an Oscar in the world of food) for some of her cookbooks.

Let's not be afraid to go through the process of transition; the one who perseveres has a good ending to their story. Don't be dismayed if your transition isn't going super well. Transitions are rarely smooth, however, transitions do make for absolutely marvelous, page-turning, adventurous stories.

A life well lived will be marked by lots of stories.