Sometimes change is unwelcome; it can feel like it’s taking us somewhere we don’t want to go. In this case, change is literally taking me somewhere. It’s not that I’m not excited about new opportunities; it’s that I’m reluctant to leave the budding opportunities, relationships and experiences where I am now. Usually, I welcome change; but I’ve noticed others sometimes handle change poorly. Here is an idea for dealing with relocation and the challenges related to the feeling of leaving family and friends behind.
How Not To Handle Transition:
Do not push friends and family away. Yes, it will make leaving easier, but it is unnecessary and painful.
The pain of leaving and the pain of pushing away are similar. Most psychological pain of this nature can be traced back to mourning the death of something; in this case, for your expected future.
How To Handle Transition:
Take necessary steps to ease the moving pains, but as the big moving day approaches try shrinking your perspective. If you will be moving in a month, take life week by week; if you will be moving in a week, take life day by day; you are leaving tomorrow, take life hour by hour.
This way, when you arrive in your new place, your expectations for your future will be a clean slate; you will have avoided the pain of pushing away friends and family; and you’ll still have a support network just a phone call or e-mail away.
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