A sense of loss often accompanies us when we make small ‘c’ cultural changes – expected or unexpected changes to our living conditions or job, or our health. Our sense of loss might be fleeting if the change is positive, for example, if we’ve earned a new, better paying job in the blink of an eye we might register feelings of excitement, disbelief, sadness, fear; and, then settle on a sense that we’re okay. Even if it’s not as good news as an exciting new job or winning the lottery, it’s amazing how quickly our emotions can work with our thoughts to return us to an even keel if we’ve had a brief downturn in our luck.
And then there are what I call big ‘c’ cultural changes–changes from bigger losses like losing the status of being partnered, retiring from paid work, recognizing the impact climate change will have on our future, entering into a new religion, or moving to another country–these are examples of huge life transitions that can have lasting impacts on our mental health and our understanding of ‘who we are.’
Adapting to change can be difficult. It can bring about anxiety or unhealthy coping actions that don’t seem to quickly resolve. In some cases, we experience change from such a big loss that we don’t really recover…but, we can learn to live with the heartache and continue to build our lives around the life-changing event.
Like many people, I’ve had significant changes and losses in my life; and, when we really think about it, life is all about these types of transitions. How we navigate them often defines whether or not we feel content and ready to take on new challenges in the future.
Whatever life transition you are facing, I have the background and training to help you understand your particular processing style. We can explore the transition together, checking your emotions, thoughts, and behaviour to find a way through that’s aligned with who you are – a path as unique as your life’s journey.
