How easily do we navigate through change? It’s the time of year when the temperature is beginning to drop, the leaves are turning, and the first sign of frost is here. It is all an indication that change is on the horizon. Change is not something we deal with too easily. We are creatures of habit and many times the familiar is safer than moving toward something new. I, however, have always liked change as it has brought me to new levels of growth. I continually see how many blessings can come through it. What we don’t find easy is the process in getting there.

This weekend I had a taste of experiencing some uncertainty as I was on a road to a retreat site on the west side of Colorado Springs. While traveling up the winding road I wasn’t sure if I would ever get to my destination. The road was filled with pot holes and gravel that made my SUV have a workout. It felt like forever.. but gradually I did reach my destination in spite of all the turbulence along the way.

Generally, my clients are trying to navigate through some type of transition that is impacting them in a big way. It may be they are going through a divorce, a change in career, or their health has impacted their life in a negative way. I like change although it has not come without some struggle. Most people don’t want to feel that struggle, so they rely on what is familiar and comfortable staying stuck in the same old patterns. They don’t see this as an opportunity to grow in new ways and allow new to come their way.

I call this the in-between zone where people stay stuck in the muck. They don’t know how to navigate through it so they just stay there spinning around wondering if they will ever get through it. I was talking to a group this week and one lady said she was in a lot of anxiety because her husband had lost his job. She was going to the worst possible scenario in her mind of what would happen if she lost her home..how would her kids deal with it.. ? As we continued to talk she said her kids were really thriving in school. We talked about that her family might even get closer through this experience, but she couldn’t feel that like there was anything positive about it. I believe she was stuck in the fear of the future even though her present life wasn’t that bad.

There is hope in change, and even if our economy gets even worse, somehow we will survive. A bigger purpose is being woven through these challenges in our life. If we see it as an avenue to grow, we realize that the chaos is only temporary. It may uproot some deeper understanding of how we keep stuck in old patterns. In the end, it will lead to contentment and fulfillment.

Here are some steps to navigate through change more effectively:

• Realize that change is a temporary state. Rather than focus on the story, concentrate only on what is present and true today.
• Know that before change can happen, chaos precedes so you see what needs to be torn down.
• Learn to be comfortable with uncertainty, as we surrender to the process.

Here’s to your process of change!