I am a big believer in honoring the transitions in our lives, no matter how big or small they may seem. When we think about life transitions, we usually think about the big ones – marriage, divorce, death of a loved one, moving – but transitions can take many forms.
Perhaps when we think about transitions, we think about children leaving for college, menopause,changing jobs, or loss of mobility. Anything that changes us through the experience is really a gate of transition. There was a time in the history of the where the human race was we were better at honoring these transitions. Today we are so busy we hardly notice them.
The month of July was the apex of a couple big transitions for me. In the months leading up to July, I was planning a move of the clinic as well as leaving my job of the past six years. These changes are wonderful and the culmination of much hard work, planning and dreaming. And still, coupled with the excitement were feelings of being overwhelmed, of too little time in the day, and being pulled in too many directions all at the same time.
Whether it is stress based on what we want, or what we don’t want, the stress of transitions takes it’s toll. Because the events of my recent experience were planned, the symptoms sort of snuck up on me and often they were subtle. It was humbling to see how much judgment I layered on top of this experience.TOne of the largest judgements of myself was since these changes were the culmination of years of work and thrilling really, that it shouldn’t be stressful.
Once I noticed these reactions, and how different they were from my more typical stress responses, I was able to start to talk about them and give them a voice. At the same time starting to challenge my shoulds and judgements. Additionally, I started to support my body and spirit through the variety of tools at my disposal. But I had to notice them first and then be willing to give my experience space.
Regardless of the transition we find ourselves in, these gate of change often ask us to look deeply at ourselves and our core beliefs about who we are, what we deserve and what we are capable of achieving. These are not easy questions to answer, sometimes even to face.
It was in another time of great transition that I started receiving regular acupuncture treatments and ultimately set me on a path that leads to where I am today. The treatments were grounding and kept me rooted in the experience was I walked through spaces and places that were unknown. Honoring the transitions in our lives gives them voices and allows us to be more fully present.
Good stress, bad stress, all just stress. During times of transition, consider grounding the experience and see how it changes the experience and… you!
Take advantage of my complementary thirty minute consultation and find out more about how acupuncture can help with stress and it’s manifestations.You can read more about acupuncture and stress at bluebranches.com/a-balanced-approach/stress/