The roller coaster ride that is part of being “in transition” is one we’re familiar with. The emotional ups and downs, the euphoria of job search progress followed by the “ghosting” of recruiters. It’s the “hang ten” then “wipeout” ride that is our life. But what determines the size of the wave you’re riding?
How’s the Weather in There?
It all depends on where you are in your journey and how you let outside forces affect your internal weather. And, just like the weather, it can change at a moment’s notice. I know there are times I feel like I’m in control, that I’m feeling good about my progress and all it takes is one negative comment about me being out of work… the wind whips up, a storm gets brewing and the waves begin to flow.
What’s Easy About the Wave?
There are times, looking at that downward slope, all I see is the work it’ll take to get back up the hill. The slide down is easy and tempting to stay on. It doesn’t feel good but it’s effortless. The mental effort it takes to start the accent tends to reverberate as physical lethargy, driven by self-doubting beliefs. It’s daunting. There’s no fun in riding these waves.
Flatten Your Own Curve
There are a ton of emotions that can power the wave but it’s the peaks and valleys that pose the most danger. Expectations after a positive job search response can serge a positive peak beyond where it should be. If the outcome does not meet those expectations, the valley can open up like a canyon. A colleague of mine had a very helpful strategy… apply, then move on! Always keeping an eye out for the next opportunity interrupts the cycle of “expectation” and “disappointment” and helps keep the wave flat.
And yet, the concept of the wave itself is the key to it all.
The Wave Is as the Wave Does
Being “in Transition” IS a wave. The downs DO NOT last for ever. The journey is a flow of events and energies that rise and fall. Just knowing this and visualizing where you are on the wave allows you to control how big that wave gets. Controlling your expectations of “the highs” will help limit how low you’ll go. It gives you the power to ride out the turbulent times into tranquil waters.
Pick Your Own Wave
The reality is it’s your reality to choose. And, it’s ok to be high or low on the wave of transition. You need to be able to acknowledge what you’re feeling but not be consumed by it. That’s what builds the swell. Having the perspective that there is a wave BUT you control its size will make the storm driving the serge less damaging to your progress.
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