Embracing Life’s Transitions as Adventure

“Life is either a great adventure or nothing.” ~Helen Keller

One thing we know for sure is that change happens constantly in our lives. Whether we are aware of it or not, we are often in a process of transition. This transition may come in the form of a new beginning, the struggle of a difficult ending, or some limbo stage in between one ending and the next new beginning. Although there are some aspects of these life transitions that are exciting, many people still experience stress and depending on the stage of the transition can feel paralyzed by fear of the unknown or struggle with a myriad of other emotions.

If we are lucky, we will have many opportunities in our lifetime to experience a variety of transitions like going away to college, a new relationship, new job, new home, new member of the family and different aspects of the process of aging. Although many of these experiences can be challenging, they always provide us opportunities to learn and grow. It is the meaning that we give to our experiences that shape how empowering the lessons or growth may feel or how disempowering or traumatic the changes may be perceived.

The wise Viktor Frankl wrote, “Suffering minus meaning equals despair,” and I could not agree more. I have seen this wisdom lived out with clients over the last twenty-five years of my counseling career, as well as in my own life. When we are not able to give our suffering meaning we feel disempowered and victimized. Although I believe we must acknowledge and honor how we feel, we also need to recognize that we have the power to fuel our own suffering or transform it based on the meaning we give to it.

I have witnessed the difference it makes when rather than staying stuck in our suffering we find a new way of approaching it. I have personally found the most empowering way to respond to change is to give it meaning by embracing life’s transitions as adventures! When we look at change as adventure – a daring and exciting activity calling for enterprise and enthusiasm – we are able to move past our fear of the unknown and see the blessings and opportunities that arise.

And I love that there are so many self-nurturing aspects of adventure! To begin with, breaking out of our everyday routines and looking at our lives from a fresh perspective bring new energy, ideas, and creativity. Living adventurously and stepping outside of our comfort zones encourage us to truly learn about ourselves and nurture our growth and potential. Reframing a transition into an adventure allows us to feel like we have influence on the trajectory of our lives rather than feeling like life happens to us. Choosing to see transitions as adventures enables us to embrace life changes with curiosity rather than getting stuck in fear and judgment.

As Joseph Campbell reminds us, “we must let go of the life we have planned so as to accept the one that is waiting for us.”

Choosing to view a transition as an adventure opens us to the wonder of what could be waiting for us, instead of resisting the change and clinging to our disappointment. Embracing this perspective helps us cultivate an open mind and open heart and provides an opportunity to deepen our trust in ourselves and faith in the universe.

“There is no certainty; there is only adventure.” ~ Roberto Assagiolli

If we know that change is the one thing we can count on, why not cultivate a nurturing coping strategy that will empower you regardless of how your life unfolds? Embracing transitions as adventure is the key!

To see if this perspective could empower you, take a moment and reflect on a transition you are currently going through.

Then ask yourself the following questions:

1. What meaning am I giving to this experience?

2. What parts of the transition am I currently struggling with?

3. What aspects of the change do I feel excited or curious about?

4. How can I embrace this situation with more joy and an adventurous spirit instead of resisting the change?

5. What difference could this practice make in my life?

Reflecting on the answers to these questions can provide you with increased self-awareness and new insight to inspire self-nurturing choices. Sometimes we only realize how attached we have become to our expectations of how things are supposed to be in our lives when change happens. Our willingness to courageously embrace change by letting go of how we think things should be and opening to how they are really unfolding is the most nurturing choice we can make.

“It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life and in change there is power.” ~Alan Cohen

Make the empowering choice to embrace your next transition as an adventure and nurture peace in the world from the inside out!