3 Habits Leaders Use in Difficult Life Transitions
As you approach the end of summer, do you recall this past winter and spring? You may be thinking, some days it is hard enough to remember what you had for breakfast much less what happened at the beginning of this year. I agree it is hard to remember past seasons, but if we pay close attention, those past seasons can teach us some things.
Just like seasons are an inevitable part of life, going through difficult and challenging times in life are inevitable too. Some of you move through these difficult seasons with ease. You prepare for it spiritually, mentally, and physically and come through on the other side unscathed. However, there are some of you that have just recently or may be approaching a very difficult life transition and you are finding there is nothing that could have prepared you for the difficulties.
During a very hard and painful time over ten years ago, a dear friend said to me these encouraging words, “Winter is almost over, and spring will be here very soon.” How quickly the season did in fact change. Winter passed and spring came upon us suddenly. You could see the buds ready to burst open on the trees and flowers; and then suddenly there is color everywhere. Likewise, my difficult season did pass quickly. When I felt like I was going to wither and die because I could not contain the pain of the past, suddenly God came at the appropriate time and moved me through to the next season of my life.
Fast forward to a more recent time in my life, when my family was faced with the care and responsibility of both of my aging parents and their recent deaths. In the midst of this difficult season, it seemed like it would never end. However, even in the midst of the pain, I learned to embrace the moments of this season.
I want to share with you three significant keys that helped me move through this season of difficult life transitions.
- Keep Your Spiritual, Mental and Physical Life Top Priority
It would be so easy to put your spiritual life on hold, embrace negativity about the situation, and let your own body suffer from not eating right or exercising regularly. There will be days where you just can’t do it all and you fall into the trap of not taking care of yourself properly. Give yourself some grace. The point is to not stay there. Get up and go at it again.
- Keep a Journal
Journaling is a good way to write out ALL of your thoughts, the good and the bad ones. Sometimes, just jotting down three things you are grateful for is good for the soul. It is a healthy way to help you stay focused on the positives around you.
- Keep Cultivating Close Relationships
You may have a tendency to isolate. Isolation is not a good idea while going through a difficult life transition. Even for introverts, cultivating close relationships may be exhausting to even think about, but it is actually life giving. It’s the fuel to keep you going.
Are you in that very hard and painful time of your life right now? Do you feel like you are in the dead of the winter in your spiritual, mental, or physical life? Are you wanting to move to this next season that God so longs to move you to?
Learning to recognize that seasons come and go and embracing the season you are in is half the battle. Work with the Lord, not against Him. Let Him take you through each season of your life. Do we see or hear creation crying out, moaning and groaning before each tree is filled with luscious green leaves? Or before each flower bud turns into a beautiful flower with vibrant colors? No, we wake up one morning and suddenly we are surrounded by color once again. Are you ready for this new season? I am!
From now on if you listen obediently to the commandments that I am commanding you today, love God, your God, and serve Him with everything you have within you, He’ll take charge of sending the rain at the right time, both autumn and spring rains, so that you’ll be able to harvest your grain, your grapes, your olives. He’ll make sure there’s plenty of grass for your animals. You’ll have plenty to eat.
Deuteronomy 11:13-15
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.
Psalm 1:1-3