SIRKEL: SUID-OOSKUS
TAK: HUMANSDORP
DATUM: 21 MEI 2024
PORTEFEULJE: OPVOEDING & KULTUUR
SAAMROEPER: TONI MEYER
BERIGGEWER: ORA SCHROEDER
Humansdorp enjoys the joy in the journey
Bev and Toni
Bev Shipley, a life-coach, was our guest speaker at the CWAA meeting on 21 May and she delivered an informative and interesting talk entitled “Transitions – there is joy in the journey.”
The main focus on the talk was on how, by understanding what the many changes in our life mean and how they affect us, we can better navigate our way through them for our optimal wellbeing.
She spoke about how we go through many transitions in our lifetime – loss (such as that of a loved one, a business, health, etc); divorce; empty nests; change in lifestyle and life stage – and many more. She used her own story of transitioning from a wife to a widow to illustrate what we go through in times of change.
The presentation was based on William Bridges’ model of transitions – namely that there are 3 main phases – Endings, the Neutral Zone and New beginnings. She spoke about how each of these phases can make us feel, and she stressed that it is normal to feel this way.
She detailed how, when something in our life ends, we can feel disengaged, disorientated, and disenchanted, while at the same time we may dismantle things that were part of our existence before, and we may feel that we have lost our identity. These feelings can all be very distressing but are nevertheless part of the process.
When we experience the Neutral Zone, it can feel a bit like a doctor’s waiting room, or the passage between one door closing and the next one opening – a feeling of “where to now?” Key to understanding this phase is that it can be chaotic and leave us with a deep sense of longing for what we have lost. But also in this phase, if we allow it, we can start to see things differently and experience new ways of being and thinking. This phase is where creativity and the source of new life can be birthed.
And then finally, transitions bring new beginnings, which start internally, so we need to pay attention to our inner space and challenge long-standing beliefs and habits. This can cause conflict because we are typically resistant to change, but new beginnings are available to all of us. They can also be unexpected, unimpressive, untidy, and mysterious and we need to be aware that distractions can look promising, so we should question whether something is really a new beginning or not. We can also prepare for new beginnings and orient ourselves to the possible outcomes. Above all, Bev stressed that when we experience new beginnings, we need to take one step at a time and be gentle and patient with ourselves and with others.
In her last slide, Bev asked the question “Where is the joy in transitions?” and concluded that it is to be found in prayer and meditation, God’s Word, gratitude and thankfulness and spiritual counsel. She spoke about the importance of listening to our intuition, acting with faith, and seeking support from others in our families and communities.
The important thing is that a deeper awareness of what we are experiencing means that we can go through these transitions in the most helpful way possible and embrace the new beginnings that they bring.
Her closing message was a quote from the author Paulo Coelho –
“If you are brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new Hello.”