Two weeks today I will move house. This will no longer be my morning view.
Moving forward in life often involves setting goals. Identifying where you’re hoping to go next, and what you want to achieve, is a great way to ensure that those goals happen. However, what we often forget is the need to plan for the transition i.e. the point at which you step across the threshold of that new objective or idea but you’re not quite there yet. For me, this has been brought into sharp perspective recently by my house move. And not just any house move – we are leaving the home we have lived in for 25 years and settling somewhere new.
Transitions like this are daunting. While initially it felt like making the decision to move, finding somewhere new and pushing through the process of sale were the biggest challenges, we are now at the stage where all of that is either achieved or in motion. But the process is far from complete. Here I stand at the start of a serious shift in my existence feeling rather unprepared. These recent events have given me the opportunity to pause and think about the necessity of planning for transitions – and having the support of a coach. And this time I’ve really valued the coaching I’ve received from my own coach. At key moments of change in my own life, whether that’s moving home, going back to work after parental leave or starting work in a newly promoted role I’ve found coaching to be so helpful. In the quiet moments I’m currently taking to sit with my own thoughts on this, a few key questions have arisen:
What is the impact of this transition going to be on my daily life? We are moving from an urban home to one that is much more rural. This will inevitably necessitate some changes to our day-to-day existence in terms of what’s available within walking distance and how connected to the community we feel.
How will this new lifestyle challenge my beliefs and principles? As you know, I’ve become increasingly passionate about wanting to live a carbon neutral lifestyle in recent months. One of the biggest challenges as a result of this transition will be the newly pressing need for a car. I will be buying an electric car.
What is the emotional effect of the house move likely to be? We are leaving the home where we have lived for 25 years and it is stuffed with memories. Our children have grown up under its roof and so much has happened – emotionally, there will be a lot of processing to make space for.
How will it feel to literally cross a new threshold every day? I’m as excited to see how it feels to be somewhere new as I am apprehensive. This could be the start of a whole new positive chapter with different surroundings triggering different thoughts and ideas on a daily basis.
What are the practical elements involved in making this transition happen? I always tend to feel comforted when I know that the practicalities and logistics are well thought through and planned for. Moving home is one of the biggest upheavals we can face as humans so there is a lot to think about. From logistics to communication, a successful transition will involve some essential attention to detail.
Dealing with change is not always something that we handle well – and in many ways when you’re going through a transition it’s essential to allow for the impact of that. Pausing to think about my own impending transition has highlighted just how important this process is when it comes to handling change – and how coaching can help. If you are currently going through a transition, whether that’s returning to work after some time, retiring or even starting a new project or at a new location, coaching could provide the support and headspace that you need to see it successfully through.