Enlarge Your Capacity by Doing Less in Transitions

A common tension in transition revolves around the question of how to sustain a healthy balance between being and doing. While transition requires leaning into both, we often wrestle with finding a healthy cadence.

How does your style and temperament react to change? Do you tend to lean into your doing/task orientation side, while neglecting God's invitation to just be? Or, do you welcome and create space for rest and reflection, ending up with a long list of transition-to-do's, overwhelmed at the end of the day?

Navigating a transition back to the states following 20 years of life overseas, I vented to my counselor and rattled off all the reasons I was not getting a fair shake. He interjected something which stopped me in my tracks. He said, “Tim, have you taken time to breathe?”

It hit me: I needed to come up for air, but I was fighting it. I needed fresh perspective, and the only way for that to happen would be to enter into God's invitation to rest. At that juncture in transition, I needed to slow down and choose what I had been considering a luxury for later when the dust settled…reflection and rest. Yet, slowing down in transition was one of the best things I did for myself (and those around me).

Here I'm reminded of a quote by Charles Spurgeon:

Rest time is not waste time. It is economy to gather fresh strength…. It is wisdom to take leave. In the long run, we shall do more by sometimes doing less. (An All Around Ministry)

Indeed.

Difficult transitions are often complicated by decision fatigue, “the deteriorating quality of decisions made by an individual after a long session of decision making.” (Lark). If that's where you're at, why not linger a spell at the crossroads, allowing God's unhurried wisdom and counsel to take root in your heart, mind, and spirit?

Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, 'We will not walk in it.' — Jeremiah 6:16, NIV

Slowing down, noticing, and asking is God's prescription for the clarity and confidence we so desperately need in seasons of change. It's also the path to enlarged capacity.

When we pause long enough and observe closely, we just might find ourselves moving beyond merely looking at the fog and feeling the stress levels rise; we actually might see more options and opportunities as the fog lifts. At the very least, we will know more peace through the uncertainty. When we only define capacity as doing more, we miss when our capacity for being—in this case peace—grows.

The following exercises combine the doing and being components of transition. Done with intentionality, in community, and possibly with outside support such as coaching or spiritual direction, they will help you slow down and serve to inform your transition to-do list. Thus, your to-be and to-do list reflects what truly matters. Here are three exercises:

1. Values clarification helps us discover (or remember) our true north in transition seasons. Taking a deep dive into values clarity has a way of grounding us through the uncertainty of change. Knowing our needs and values serves to anchor us in what matters most and to prioritize those areas. From time to time at Global Trellis, we offer a full needs and values assessment and the opportunity to unpack your results within a group of like-minded individuals. For a start, you may want to try out this abbreviated needs and values worksheet and unpack your findings with a trusted friend or family member.

2. Discernment takes time and intentionality. Simply forming the questions we need to ask in transition is no easy task. Slowing down long enough to enter into conversations with God and His people helps solidify the important questions and top priorities. Here are some examples of great questions to ask in a season of discernment.

3. Rest, renew, and review on a regular basis. I've discovered it helps me to regularly sit with a set of reflection questions. Engaging with these questions weekly helps me celebrate wins, cultivate gratitude, re-align with my values, and decide my priorities. They aren't magical, but they are another way to cultivate a rhythm of purposeful reflection.

One final word of encouragement

Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. (Ephesians 6:13, The Message)

Transitions are opportunities to stand in the juncture of two or more paths and consider the options. When we take time to put on the brakes and stand in a crossroads, we are able to notice what lies in front of us with prayerful curiosity. We are more likely to end up in a good place when it's all said and done, with capacity for being able to handle all of the doing that transitions require.

A season of coaching can help you strike a healthy balance between being and doing in transition. Let’s have a conversation!

Schedule Custom Life Coach Call — Encompass Life Coaching

*This article was originally published on Global Trellis

Walking in the Way

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.

From Disillusioned to Empowered: Navigating Transitions with Clarity

Hey there, fellow traveler! 👋

Life has a funny way of throwing curveballs, doesn’t it? Imagine being in Liam’s shoes: associate pastor, husband, father of three, and deeply committed to serving alongside Marty—the lead pastor—for a whopping 12 years. Then, bam! The official announcement drops during a church leadership meeting: Marty’s retiring in just three months.

Now, Marty’s retirement wasn’t the jaw-dropping moment. Nope. The real shocker came during those follow-up conversations. Liam discovered that he was not being considered as a candidate for the lead pastor role—despite earlier promises that he wouldn’t be overlooked in the process. Ouch, right?

So, there Liam was, sitting at home with his wife, Teresa. Their perspectives clashed like bumper cars at a fair. Liam wondered if this was God’s way of whispering, “Stay faithful, my friend. Your time will come.” Meanwhile, Teresa raised an eyebrow and asked, “Why stick around where your hard work and loyalty aren’t appreciated? Other churches would roll out the red carpet for you.”

Decision time, my friends.

Have you ever felt blindsided by change? Maybe, like Liam, you were passed over for a promotion you felt promised. Or perhaps, like his wife Teresa, you wonder if staying put is the best move.

Transitions can be confusing and leave us feeling stuck. But what if I told you this could be a season of exciting possibilities?

You're not alone.

As a missionary turned pastor, and now entrepreneur, I've navigated my own share of tricky transitions, and I'm passionate about helping others do the same.

Introducing Transitions Coaching: Your Guide Through Rough Waters.

As your coach, I'll walk alongside you through a proven three-step process:

• Discern & Dream: Let's get clear on where you've been and where you long to go. We'll explore your story, purpose, and values. Imagine the excitement of charting a new course with renewed passion!

• Discovery: We'll delve deeper, uncovering hidden opportunities that align with your values and strengths.

• Design Your Change: Together, we'll craft a personalized action plan to turn discovery into reality. This includes setting goals and building a roadmap for your journey forward.

Imagine the confidence you'll feel with every step you take!

Ready to get started?

I offer two flexible options: one-on-one coaching or group coaching. Let's schedule a quick chat to find the perfect fit for you.

Don't just take my word for it!

Here's what some satisfied souls are saying:

"I recommend that anyone in a season of transition make the time to meet with Tim - there is nothing quite like the gift of an hour that is focused solely on your own needs when we spend most of our lives taking care of others." – Valerie

"Tim is a solid rock of a coach. He's dependable, insightful, and punctual. He coached me through one of the biggest life transitions I've ever had and I am a better person because of his coaching.”
– Nate

Change doesn't have to be scary. Schedule a complementary call with me, grab your favorite beverage, and let’s tackle it together.

Warmly,

Tim

P.S. Feeling the urge to just jump in? Schedule your call today!