As a verb, transition is defined in the present tense: “undergo or cause to undergo a process or period of transition.”
I’ve been considering various transitions in life after talking with a previous colleague who mentioned that every transition is cause for planning.
We are born; we go to school; we get jobs; we leave home; we have relationships; we may/may not have children; we may move a few times; we may experience job changes; we may take a sabbatical; we may start a business; we may care for our parents, loved ones, friends; we retire; and more while we are living our lives.
Some transitions are planned and some are unplanned. I have a question for you: Could someone step into your shoes today and carry on your day to day life with ease? Have you considered this before?
It’s interesting, I’ve often thought about the parallels between work life and personal life. For example, at work we experience colleagues or bosses that may announce their departures. They have found another job or they retire. We may or may not know what they do, how they do it, how they document, or where to find their files. Have you ever walked in to a position where someone left you information about everything? Wow, whether or not you do everything they did, it is ever helpful to have their “playbook”! This information is powerful – it allows the next person to have an overview of everything to begin making decisions.
Life is like this too. Developing plans (a “playbook”) for all facets of your life and for any transition is a process. Making decisions without time sensitivity (or an emergency) reduces the emotional grip of the planning process. It allows for us to have conversations with ourselves and others about what matters and the impact of the decisions being made. This planning can open up options for living now!
I’ve had many occasions to be thankful for pre-planning. Transition is my middle name! I’ve moved often in my career, within and outside of the US. I’ve traveled often in my adult life and have seen all seven continents. I know that decisions that I’ve made in consideration of my day to day life have evolved over the years. I like knowing I have made the decisions and communicated them to those close to me. I have “put the oxygen mask on me first, before assisting others” and I am free to move about life!
If you are interested in learning more about The Living Planner, contact me: Lynn@thelivingplanner.com
I welcome your inquires. May you live life fully, Lynn