How To Move Through Life Transitions with Ease

Anita Adams: 00:00:04

Welcome to the joyful journey podcast. If you're looking for more clarity in your life, clarity of purpose, or how to activate that purpose, and you are someone who wants to operate from your highest self to be a force for good, you know this world craves, then this is the show for you. I'm Anita Adams, your host and guide to finding clarity and creating a life you love. Let's tap into our inner wisdom, access our highest self, and unleash joy. As we do this, we raise our vibration and heightened the collective consciousness. And that, my friend, is the joyful journey. Let's dive in. Hey, joyful journey or I need to Adams here your host and today we are going to talk about moving through life's transitions and the things you can do to make those transitions easier. First, I'd like to shout out another listener who left a review. Lindsey says I appreciate the honesty and useful tools that a Anita gives in each of her podcasts. I feel like I can relate to her and many of her teachings resonate. I honestly feel better and more inspired listening to her. Thank you, Lindsay. I've shared before the importance of these reviews and how they help the show become more discoverable. What's more, is that your comments helped me feel more connected to you. That's what I want. And what I think many of us want that sense of connection, community and belonging. So thank you for helping to create that. All right, let's talk about moving through life's transitions with ease. Have you noticed that sometimes transitions in life are exceedingly hard, painful, even when I made the decision to close my film business a few years ago, I really struggled with it. There was a part of me a big part of me that didn't want to let go. It was that part of me that enjoyed the security of a monthly paycheck. And that even bigger part of me that loved the attention and recognition I received in that role. I absolutely loved telling people what I did, and it would just roll off my tongue with flair. I'm the founder and executive director of a national nonprofit arts organization that promotes Canadian film and talent, I would proudly share with anyone who asked, I ran that business for 18 years, which blossomed out of a hobby I started five years previously, I gave a lot of my life to championing the Canadian arts. It was a big part of my identity. And yet there came a time when I no longer loved it. And I needed to move on. But I didn't. I clung to that title, like it was my life raft. And I held on tight for two years longer than I really should have. Because there was so much fear in the idea of letting go. So much fear in the unknown. I didn't know what else I could do, or what I even wanted to do. I just knew my heart wasn't in this business like it once was. Then COVID showed up and I had to decide, do I fight to keep this business alive? Or do I finally let go of that life raft and swim to a new shore? I let go of course. And yes, I was totally freaked out. Because I couldn't see what was next. I couldn't see the island. I was eventually going to land on. I didn't know what I wanted. I just knew I needed to let go and start swimming. At first, I felt like an empty, scared vessel aimlessly bobbing in the Great Big Sea not knowing what direction to take. Fortunately, I had the gift of time and I invested it looking inward and asking myself over and over and over again.

Anita Adams: 00:04:23

What do I want? What do I really want? And I listened to what bubbled up? The answers that came to me were scary, really scary because they were pushing me beyond my comfort zone. To continue the analogy. I could finally see the island that was mine to land on. But it was way out there. And I wondered, did I have the strength to get there? Did I have what it takes to land on this shore and create the life I want? I was being directed to teach people how to listen to inner wisdom. Listening to inner wisdom is not new to me. I've been doing it most of my life, which is why my life in many ways has been relatively easy and as beautiful as it is. But teach that skill to others. Yikes. That's uncomfortable. It meant becoming more vulnerable and sharing a part of me I've kept hidden, talking about God tapping into higher consciousness and inner wisdom. This is stuff I only shared with those I was closest with. Now I'm guided to teach this to others, no way. Clearly, I eventually relented, and I'm fully living into that purpose on this wonderful island I call home. And I couldn't be happier or feel more aligned with who I really am. Here's what I want you to take away from this. Whatever it is, you are called to do. Listen to it. Listen to that inner wisdom, that sole voice that is trying to guide you down your path to the greatest version of who you are. Yes, it will be scary and darn uncomfortable. And you might have to let go of something that has kept you afloat for a long time. You may also feel like a fraud trying to step into something new. You may say, Who am I to do that? Did you know most highly successful people have felt that way somewhere along their journey. In fact, every time you level up, you will likely feel Tengiz of imposter syndrome creeping in. These feelings are normal, you are not alone. I want to share with you five things you can do to make the transition into your purpose or a new role easier. These are the things I did as I was trying to figure out what Island to land on next. Number one, invest time in nature. But you saw that coming. Diamond nature as I've shared so often will help reduce any stress or anxiety you were feeling because of the unknown you may be facing and this time and nature will get you grounded so you can explore your free your feelings and create the space for your heart's desires to bubble up. Remember, one way your soul communicates with you is through your heart's desires. Number two, journal, write about the future version of you and present tense using im statements. This is a super powerful technique that will not only help you to find a clearer vision of what you want. Equally important, it will boost your confidence as you begin to feel your way into being that future version of you that you are describing. I did an episode on this journaling technique that goes into this in more detail. Check it out. It's episode number 13 called self worth and the possibility pages. The possibility pages is a daily practice I developed that was inspired by Julia Cameron's morning pages. This practice will propel you into being the person you want to be and living the life you want to live. The possibility pages is something I did for years and returned to whenever I'm making or wanting to make a transition in my life. This is truly powerful stuff. Number three, surround yourself with people who are courageously moving towards their dreams and goals. The motivational speaker Jim Rohn once said, You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. He also said, Show me your friends and I'll show you your future. The message here is the same. Do an audit of the people you are investing your time with and surround yourself with people who inspire you. Number four, read biographies