In the last post, I wrote about recognizing when you’re actually in a season of transition. Sometimes the relief comes simply from locating yourself on the map of transition, and naming it. But after that initial recognition, another question often follows:
“Why does this feel so heavy?”
The change itself may not even be bad. It might be chosen. It might even be right. And yet, something underneath feels unsettled. That’s because transition rarely affects just one part of your life. It ripples.
The Hidden Weight of Transition
One of the most helpful tools I use in this work is the Transition Impact Assessment. It’s built around five core areas where transition tends to land, as illustrated below:
When people feel overwhelmed, it’s often because more than one of these areas is shifting at the same time. And here’s what I’ve noticed: Most of us focus on the practical first—logistics, finances, schedules. But often the deeper disruption is somewhere else entirely. Let’s do a little unpacking of these five impact areas…
Identity & Calling
You may be asking:
Who am I if this role changes?
What does faithfulness look like in this new season?
Am I losing significance? Relevance? Purpose?
Those are not small questions!
Spiritual Alignment
Transition can quietly stir deeper questions:
Do I still trust that God is leading?
Why does uncertainty feel so unsettling?
Where is peace supposed to come from right now?
Emotional & Relational Stability
Even when you believe you’re making the right move, emotions may lag behind:
Grief.
Anxiety.
Isolation.
Tension in close relationships.
Cultural & Community Adjustment
Belonging shifts in transition. You may find yourself asking:
Where do I fit now?
Who understands this stage of life?
What expectations am I trying to meet?
Practical & Logistical Stability
Yes — these things matter too…
Finances.
Housing.
Ministry or vocational structure.
Daily rhythms.
…But when this area feels overwhelming, it’s often because something deeper feels uncertain.
Clarity Begins With Naming the Impact
The purpose of the Transition Impact Assessment isn’t to diagnose you. It’s to help you discern:
Where is this transition landing most heavily right now?
When you can name the area under strain, the fog begins to lift. You stop trying to fix everything at once. You can give attention to what actually needs care. And often, that alone brings steadiness.
Giving Attention
If you were to pause for a few minutes, which of these five areas feels most impacted for you right now?
Identity & Calling
Spiritual Alignment
Emotional & Relational Stability
Cultural & Community Adjustment
Practical & Logistical Stability
You don’t need to solve it today. Just notice it. Discernment begins with attention.
Walking Through This Together
On May 19th at 12 PM MST, I’ll be hosting another live Walking with People in Transition webinar. We’ll spend time with tools like the Transition Curve and the Transition Impact Assessment — not as checklists to complete, but as companions for discernment.
If you’re in the messy middle of a shift right now, this space may help you slow down enough to see what’s actually happening beneath the surface. More details are on the site, and I’ll share more as we get closer.
Transitions are rarely overwhelming because they are wrong. They are overwhelming because they touch more than one part of us at once. When you can name where the impact is strongest, you can move forward with more clarity — and more grace.
— Tim
P.S.
If you already sense which area is under the most strain, consider giving that space intentional attention this week — through prayer, conversation, or simply honest reflection. Clarity grows where attention is given.