Walking in the Way
I’ve been reflecting on my relationship with uncertainty, especially in seasons when there has been little to no sense of direction. Have you ever been in one of those slumps? Are you in the middle of one currently? How are you framing your view of the unknown? Through the lens of curiosity or resistance?
And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us… -Hebrews 12:1b
In life I’m a walker, not a runner. Regardless, the thought I want to convey is the same. I’ve learned that walking takes perseverance too. I’ve been reflecting on my relationship with uncertainty, especially in seasons when there has been little to no sense of direction. Have you ever been in one of those slumps? Are you in the middle of one currently? How are you framing your view of the unknown? Through the lens of curiosity or resistance?
The scripture is clear. The race (road, path, journey, calling, assignment) is marked out for us by God. We sometimes think we’ve missed the signpost. Could it be that the signs are just more spaced out than we originally thought? Or hidden from plain sight in order to entice the seeker in us? And could all of this be His “way” of nurturing our faith and growing us into people of character who know how to endure?
This idea is not unlike my experience of walking the way of the pilgrim, the El Camino de Santiago. My wife and I completed a 100 mile stretch of the trail in 2022. In just over a month from now, we return for more, albeit a different section of the trail…this time leading a group of like-minded couples.
The scallop shell symbol, famous along the Camino, appears once in a while along the way to ease the mind of the questioning pilgrim. This appeals to the planner in me. There is something that comes alive in me upon the sight of it. Yes, I say to myself, you are heading in the right direction. Who doesn’t like a bit of confirmation?
Walking the Camino somewhere in Northern Spain, 2022
However, there are long stretches of the trail void of markers. One does not always get to see the sign in front of them shouting “this is the way” (Mandalorian creed anyone?). But just often enough the pilgrim will spot the scallop shell etched into wood, dirt or stone, a welcome assurance that they are heading in the right direction.
In our faith journeys, God gives us markers along the way, signposts to encourage us and give us a sense of confidence that he is leading and directing. Not all of the time, remind you. The signs can be few and far between. Nothing predictable or formulaic. A God Who inspires wonder and mystery will have none of that. Nonetheless, He’s good at what he does in forming the human soul. He knows what we need and when.
Personally, I’ve navigated large gaps and spaces of uncertainty, and plenty confusion to go with it. I’ve longed for clarity in those seasons. Can you relate? I’ve missed a few signs along the way, having to retrace my steps. I’ve cried out for clarity. Maybe I should have been praying for trust instead?
This is why I love doing what I do as a coach, walking with others through transition seasons. So much of the process is about becoming OK with uncertainty, learning to trust. It’s the questions which drive curiosity. 100% confidence all the time loses its luster and produces stagnation.
We walk in life with the expectancy that the next mile-marker will confirm what we hope for. Not full clarity. Not total confidence. Certainly not completion (Is the real race ever really completed?). But a firm conviction that we haven’t just stumbled into this place; we are here with a purpose. We are in the Way.
The Well of Identity
Transitions are pivotal times to discover and embrace our true identities and live with greater purpose and fulfillment, even through the uncertainty and ambiguity of change. Get practical strategies and insights to help you respond to identity confusion in our ever-changing lives.
Today, I’m thrilled to take you on a soul-stirring journey into the depths of identity. Identity has a huge role in the process of navigating change successfully and with greater clarity. Let’s find out why that is! Welcome to my latest podcast episode titled “The Well of Identity”, where we explore identity at its core.
Episode Highlights
In this episode I share some practical strategies and insights to help us respond to identity confusion in our ever-changing lives. We will be reflecting on some ways we can stay grounded and purposeful in transition seasons.
Transitions are pivotal times to discover and embrace our true identities and live with greater purpose and fulfillment, even through the uncertainty and ambiguity of change. That’s good news!
Here are some key takeaways:
Healthy Identity. What does it look like? How does forgetfulness cause us to see ourselves as something less than how God sees us?
Identity Confusion: How can our true identities stay hidden under layers of unhealthy thought patterns influenced by our own misperceptions or cultural and societal norms?
Digging new wells: One of the invitations in transition seasons is to dig new wells toward our God-given identities. What does that mean and what might it look like?
Listen to the Episode
Ready to dive into the well of identity? 🎧 Tune in to “The Well of Identity” on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Reflect, take notes, and let the wisdom seep into your soul.
Don’t Forget!
As you sip your metaphorical water from the well of identity, don’t be surprised when other “voices” of false identity invade the space. Breathe the prayer, “Lord, remind me who I am in You.” This journey is an ongoing pilgrimage my friend.
Thank you for being part of this faith-filled community. 🚀✨
Warm regards,
-Tim
P.S. If this episode resonates with you, consider sharing it with fellow pilgrims on the path. Let’s create ripples of authenticity together!
5 Reasons People Fail to Grow Through Transition
Whether we initiate a transition ourselves or it happens to us, why leave the process up to chance? How can we navigate the waters of transition more purposefully? As a fellow transitioner, I've struggled to find reasons why some of my own transitions haven't been as successful as they could have been. Here's 5 Reasons why people fail to grow through transition….
Recently, while introducing a workshop on the topic of transitions, I conducted an experiment. I asked the attendees to introduce themselves to someone new and to only talk about things in their lives which were NOT changing. The conversation dragged on for a few minutes. Energy and interest remained low. Next, I gave them permission to talk about anything and everything in their lives related to change. Life and energy returned to the room. It was hard to break up the conversations.
The Reminder? Transition is a universal part of all our lives. It’s where we all find common ground and interest. Transition trends among us.
Change is trending because it's always constant and arresting our attention. Just as all things trending rank high in number of online searches and views, transition trends among us, capturing our attention, occupying our thoughts and conversations.
How has transition impacted you? Do you feel victimized by it? Blessed because of it? Challenged through it?
Given its universality, we would do well to maximize the personal and professional benefits transition seasons offer. Whether we initiate a transition ourselves or it happens to us, why leave the process up to chance? How can we navigate the waters of transition more purposefully?
As a coach I help people get intentional with transition. As a fellow transitioner, I've struggled to find reasons why some of my own transitions haven't been as successful as they could have been.
Here's 5 Reasons why people fail to grow through transition….
Not establishing clear goals. I once thought goals were somewhat useless during seasons of change because transition messes with them too much. The opposite is true. The fact is setting goals, personal and professional, is the SMART way to navigate change. Having goals through a difficult transition can greatly increase the potential to stay the course when obstacles surprise us and expectations aren't met.
Not setting aside time and space for processing. Failure is linked to forging ahead during transition seasons without due diligence. That due diligence consists of finding ways to reflect and process. A good balance of personal reflection and processing with a coach you can trust is the path to success.
Falling back into old habits. Transition paths are often marked by signs along the way, ones which tell us to break away from the old patterns and habits which got us stuck in the first place. The perfect opportunity to dislodge old lifestyle and work habits that aren’t serving us well is when we're going through a season of change.
The fear of risk. This is a big one. We fear what we don’t know, and transition and the unknown are blood brothers. While risking it all to pursue our dreams sounds glamorous, and the potential to maximize growth opportunities in change is never higher, fear of failure might be something we need to confront. The bigger the transition, the more potential to be paralyzed by fear.
Taking an all or nothing approach. I used to think that everything needs to change when transition calls. No stone left unturned was my motto. Now I realize this isn’t necessarily true. In fact it’s rarely true. God has always been gracious to to leave me some “holds” during a transition climb to keep me hopeful on the journey upward. As William Bridges puts it,
“As rock climbers try to move only one hand (or foot) at a time, keeping the other three points of contact with the rock solid, so the person in transition will usually do well to use the rest of his or her life as a series of “holds” while making a transition elsewhere.”
One final thought...
What if we were to visualize transition as a coin, marked by resistance on one side and growth on the other? When we find ourselves resisting change, could we be sabotaging our own growth? What side of the coin are you on today?