Spring brings change and with it, many are experiencing life transitions.

A life transition is anything that alters your life  - whether that is graduating, moving, beginning a new job, getting married, or ending a relationship - life’s changes bring about new emotions that impact the way we navigate these events. As changes can come in so many different forms, they can elicit different and, at times, unexpected responses and reactions. Checking in with yourself during times of transition can be a powerful tool in understanding how you to best navigate change and bringing awareness to what you might be needing.

Sometimes life’s transitions can be exciting and motivating and other times they can be tough and painful, leading to feelings of fear, anxiety, depression, or overwhelm. Change tends to amplify the unfamiliar and unfamiliarity can illicit discomfort for many. Some discomfort during life transitions is expected - most of us don’t particularly like change. But, when these negative emotions begin to interfere with your life, it’s a good sign it’s time to take action.

Working intentionally to incorporate healthy coping skills and mindfulness tools into your life can empower you to manage future change and transitions (good or bad) more effectively.

Consider these 5 steps when facing significant changes in your life:

1. PRACTICE ACCEPTANCE

Whether you are navigating a big life transition or a small event, the first step in beginning to effectively navigate change is to embrace change as a part of being human - as the saying goes, “the only constant in life is change.” When we resist and avoid change, we are often left feeling stuck, which can leave room for difficult emotions such as anxiety and depression to persist. When we embrace change rather than avoiding it, we begin to leave room for growth.

2. BRING AWARENESS TO YOUR EMOTIONS

Ask yourself, “What am I feeling in this moment” when you begin to feel uncomfortable or ill at ease. Some emotions are easy to misinterpret - have you ever noticed how similar anxiousness and excitement can feel? Both can bring the experience of butterflies in your stomach, a racing heart, and difficulty sitting still.

Being able to accurately name your emotions during a life transition can significantly impact the way in which we experience the process of change. Sometimes, when emotions feel so overwhelming they feel difficult to face, naming the emotion can allow them to feel less powerful and can provide insight into what we might be needing. Emotions are data points that can give provide valuable information when accurately attended to. Practice being an active observer of your emotions so that you can effectively understand what they are signaling is needed.

3. CONNECT WITH YOUR VALUES

During life changes and transitions, we can often feel overwhelmed by the number of decisions we need to make. Connecting with your values - asking yourself “What is most important to me and the life I am building,” and reflecting on if your choices are connecting you with these values or moving you away from what you value most. Feeling out of alignment with our values can create a sense of incongruence and increase feelings of discomfort and anxiety. As a result, it is important to connect intentionally with your values, especially as things around you are changing.

4. DEVELOP AND STICK WITH A ROUTINE

A good way to connect with things you value and engage in meaningful behaviors is to work toward building and/or maintaining consistency with a routine even when life transitions may be breeding chaos in your day-to-day. Falling out of doing the things that bring us joy and help regulate our emotions can make managing change and difficult emotions even more challenging.

Engaging with a consistent routine can activate the reward centers of our brains and lead to feelings of accomplishment that often breed motivation and improves our moods, overall. Routines and daily habits allow us to engage in values-centered activities and provide a sense of familiarity and predictability during transitions.

5. DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT YOUR STORY TO BE

Consider how you want to look back on this time in your life. We often internally narrate, as well as tell the stories of our lives to those who support us. How we tell these stories is integral to how we experience, reflect on, and remember significant events in our lives. Take time to thoughtfully consider the way in which you frame these stories.

You can, at times, even intentionally begin to create the narrative you desire and then take action to live in congruence with the vision you have created. This takes reflection and integration of the previous steps - being accepting of the change that is occurring, being aware of your emotions, connecting to what you value, and being consistent in the habit of framing your experience in a way that supports your overall well-being.

Interested in Beginning Bozeman Counseling Services?

Life’s changes, while often challenging, can be an opportunity for self-exploration, self-reflection, and growth. Engaging with these tips, as well as reaching out for support, can help make life’s transitions more manageable. If you are needing support as you navigate change, our team of caring therapists would be honored to help you in your journey. To start therapy with Bridger Peaks Counseling, please follow these simple steps:

1. Make an appointment online

2. Meet with one of our professional Bozeman mental health therapists

3. Begin to embrace change!

Other Therapy Services We Offer in Bozeman, MT

Our team of caring counselors at Bridger Peaks Counseling is happy to provide a variety of mental health services. Our team is happy to offer services including adult counseling, teen counseling, group therapy, rising strong workshops, and marriage counseling. Furthermore, we provide anxiety therapy, depression treatment, substance use counseling, and online grief counseling. Along with EMDR, postpartum depression support, body image therapy, and psychiatric care. Visit our blog or FAQ to learn more today!