Navigating Transitions
with Creativity

Over the past twenty years or so, I’ve gone through some major changes and transitions.

I’ve transitioned careers, I’ve transitioned into a marriage and then out of that marriage, I’ve taken a two year travel sabbatical, I’ve sold and bought a house and I moved my life from the concrete jungle of the big city to the stillness of the desert.

Transitions can be subtle or can shake us to our core. Unless we have the tools to navigate through these challenging periods, we may find ourselves stuck and unable to move forward.

The very nature of transitions—whether they are expected or come as a surprise—requires us to adapt, but adaptation is not always an instinctive response. It often demands a conscious effort to understand and manage our emotions.

This can be particularly challenging when transitions are abrupt or profound, disrupting our sense of stability and forcing us to confront uncertainties that we may not feel prepared for.

For most of us, facing change and transition comes with much fear and anxiety. We tend to overthink the process, worrying about the unknown future and in that space we tend to forget that change has great potential for growth, innovation, and renewal. It involves developing a mindset that values flexibility, open-mindedness, and a willingness to step out of comfort zones.

Nature teaches us to embrace change, to flow with it rather than resist or fear it. Like the earth awakening from its winter slumber, we too are called to emerge into a new season of our lives with hope and openness.

There’s a blessing and an opportunity in every season of change. Transitions open up a space for us to look inward, to re-examine, to heal old wounds and step into what’s next for us with clarity and confidence.

*Art by Lea Ann Hutter / Creative High Growth 2022 Alumni*

The three stages of change

It helps to know in which stage of transition we are in so we can better support ourselves.

In his TED talk The Secret to Mastering Life's Biggest Transitions, Bruce Feiler identifies three stages that represent the emotional and psychological journey we go through when we face significant changes.

This framework can apply to different types of transitions, like career changes, relationship changes, relocating to a new place, or even coping with loss.

Perhaps understanding these three stages may support you in your season of change?

The first stage is called The Long Goodbye.

It’s where we begin to acknowledge and process the end of a certain chapter in our lives. This stage has a mix of emotions, including denial, sadness, anger, and confusion. You may experience a sense of loss for what is being left behind, even if the change is ultimately for the better.

This is a time of reflection on your experiences, your identity, the roles you played, and the expectations that will no longer be part of your life.

The key to navigating this stage is acceptance and allowing oneself to grieve for what is being lost, recognizing it as a necessary step for moving forward.

The second stage is called the messy middle.

And it’s not called messy for no reason. This is the phase where the old has been left behind, but the new has not yet fully taken shape.

This is the stage where we often encounter confusion, doubt, and questioning.

You may struggle with your sense of self, not knowing exactly who you are in the absence of the roles and identities you've left behind. This is a time of experimentation, making mistakes, learning, and gradually gaining clarity.

The messy middle requires patience, resilience, and the willingness to embrace the unknown as an crucial part of the transition process.

This is the stage where I often meet many of my students on their journey. In their messy middle. This is the stage where people often begin to seek help and guidance. This is where they are more open to letting go of trying to control the outcome and learn how to trust the unknown. This is the stage with an opportunity to dive deep and get to know yourself better.

The third stage is called The New Beginning.

This is when we start to see the fruits of our labor and begin to embrace our new identity and the changes we’ve gone through. This stage has a renewed sense of purpose, clarity, and optimism. You start to establish new routines, form new relationships, and fully engage with your new reality.

This stage is a time of growth, accomplishment, and excitement for the future. This stage requires an open heart and mind, as well as the courage to step into the unknown with confidence.

Creativity is your guide.

Through every season of change there is one asset that you can always rely on - your creativity.

Creativity is not just an asset but a necessity, providing you with the flexibility to imagine new possibilities, the resilience to endure uncertainty, and the vision to see beyond the present moment.

This is one of the reasons I am so passionate about helping people liberate their creative free spirit and step into their unique and authentic voice.

When we have access to our creativity in an unblocked and unrestricted way, new ideas emerge.

Our creativity invites us to experiment, explore new things and express ourselves so that we move through the stage of change we are in with more ease and optimism.

Creativity can supports us in every stage of change, offering comfort in the Long Goodbye, guidance in the Messy Middle, and celebration in the New Beginning.

By keeping our creative free spirit alive and active we ensure that each step of our journey is infused with meaning and purpose.

Creativity has the potential to become your true guide, lighting the way forward as you step into the unknown, ready for change, growing stronger and more adaptable with every transition.

So no matter what stage of change you are meeting yourself in these days, remember that your creativity is a powerful ally in this journey. Your creativity can build bridges over obstacles, turning challenges into opportunities for growth and innovation.

As you embrace your creativity as your guide, you will discover that within you lies the power to face any change, to navigate through any transition, and to emerge on the other side ready to paint the canvas of your life with the vibrant colors of your newfound insights.

Navigating Transitions with Creativity