Life jacket anyone?

Again, I am chewing on something I heard on Oprah radio. Odd how the
universe has been speaking to me through that medium lately…I don’t
listen that often but lately the little gems have been popping out at
me. This latest one was about change. I wish I could find the snippet
to link to, because I am going to butcher it, but it goes something
along the lines of: Every time you choose to change something, you
have to let go of something at the same time. So in this way, every
change represents a death of sorts, a death of what you are letting go
of in favor of what you are choosing instead. Inherent in this process
is grief. Every change, no matter how small, can spur a sense of loss
and can bring about the grieving process.


I found that so resonant, as I have been through a whole lot of change
this year (knee replacement surgery, moving in with my boyfriend and
reorganization at my workplace to name just a few of the major items.)
AND I am examining a major change in career at some point. Hearing
that I must face and honor the things I have let go during times of
change was startling to me in its common sense. I think sometimes we
believe we can just flip a switch or power through a change,
especially one that may not be of our own doing. But no matter the
intention of the change or the fact that it is “for the better,” there
is still a letting go and a grieving that must take place if there is
to be growth as a result.


This week I have been dealing with the grieving process around trying
to manage the changes that were just announced at the office, changes
that in a matter of moments broke apart a team I had worked for almost
two years to build, support, encourage and nurture. In trying to find
out more about this process, I came across an article by William
Bridges about how we get lost in transition. I’ve read it once and am
going to try to bring some of it to my manager and see if we can’t help the rest of the
department – who I know are feeling at least a little shaken up and at
most really unsupported and angry – voice their concerns and help us
navigate this transition in a way that will work best for us all if we
can. I can’t be the only one who feels this way, but I might be the
only one who will start to talk about it…Guess we’ll see.


Wish me luck and throw me a life jacket if you have a spare!