Navigating life changes isn’t easy. It throws a monkey wrench in our best-laid plans. One day, we’re minding our business, doing our thing and the next thing you know … BAM! Life takes us on a major detour.

Whether you are breaking up or divorcing, coping with empty nest syndrome, changing careers, moving to a new city, or even dealing with the death of a loved one, change impact almost every area of our lives. You can’t go around, over or under change. You must go through it. The good news is that the there are ways to grow and flourish through those life changes and transition triumphantly. Here are some strategies:

1. Accept the Change. Resistance is Futile. One of the most ineffective ways to get through the situation is to deny or fight if the changes are beyond your control. It will take some time but try to accept and embrace the life change.

“Accept – then act. Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it. Always work with it, not against it…..this will miraculously transform your whole life.”

-Eckhart Tolle

2. Take Care of Yourself.   I know, easier said than done, right? The power of self-care is often underestimated (probably because we’re so busy trying to take care of everyone else). It’s important to be sure that YOUR basic needs are met, especially when you’re going through changes.
   • Get some rest. Whatever is on your mind will still be there in the morning so do yourself a favor and rest your body, mind and spirit. This will replenish you so that you’re ready for tomorrow.
   • Eat. Our appetite is sometimes the first thing that leaves when we’re under stress but healthy, nourishing meals and snacks will give you the strength you need to take another baby step through the change.
   • Move your body. We’ve all heard how great endorphins make us feel and how exercise increases those endorphins but for some reason, when we’re going through life changes, exercise isn’t always top of mind. Take a walk, try a yoga class or do whatever physical activity you enjoy.
   • Reconnect with Spirit. Whether you call that higher power God, Universe, Allah, or Jehovah times of transition have a way of reviving our relationship with a higher power. Tap into that Source for comfort and peace.

3. Before you say hello to the future, say farewell to the past. In order to move forward with any new change, its important to say acknowledge the past. When my daughter went away to college, I spent days combing through old photos of her from the time she was born until the day I dropped her off at her dorm. I smiled, I laughed, I cried, I indulged myself in that trip down memory. Eventually, I put the photos away and slowly began to embrace the new opportunities of being an empty nester.

Robin Sharma says,

“Change is hard at first, messy in the middle and gorgeous at the end.”

One thing about life changes that no one talks about is the gorgeous and wonderful opportunities that come from the change. Yes, it sucks to be at the beginning or even in the middle of a major life change but stay strong and have faith that you’ll see the dawn of a gorgeous new day.