We can strategise, plan, and do our best to steer our ship in the direction we want.
Sometimes life has other plans.
Whether this occurs in the form of a relationship ending, a redundancy, or some other form of change; we can be left spinning.
You know the saying: We make plans, and God laughs.
Here are some steps to support you:
1.) Grieve.
It’s expected to feel disappointed, sad, scared, worried, and confused. You are grieving the path that you thought you were on, or the outcome you thought you’d have.
Allocating time to be in your feelings about this can be an important step of processing our pain.
What is also important is that we do not remain stuck there.
2.) Trust.
We can feel disenchanted in our plans, the people around us, or our circumstances. One thing to practice is trust.
You don’t have to put on rose-coloured glasses and pretend that everything is ok if it is not. Instead, you can practice trust in the notion that this will all make sense in the future.
You can’t connect the dots right now, but you will.
A tiny glimmer of trust and hope that things will make sense, and that they can shift, is all you need to start moving forward.
3.) Find support.
When our world is turned upside down we need the support of others around us.
Tapping into our support network can help us in practical ways, as well as supporting us emotionally.
Don’t navigate scary life changes on your own.
4.) Rebuild intentionally.
When our foundation has been wiped away, we have the opportunity to create something new from the ground up.
This can be a blessing in disguise: It is a chance to re-evaluate what is truly important and meaningful to us, and build from there.
5.) Maintain routines.
Having a couple of healthy habits, routines, and behaviours can help keep us grounded while the rest of our lives may feel chaotic.
Walking, mindfulness, stretching, and cooking can be helpful windows into a sense of normalcy while we navigate our next steps.
6.) Tap into your big dreams.
I have noticed that when big and unexpected changes occur it can be an opportunity to tap into the dreams hidden in our heart.
What is that idea you’ve been procrastinating on? Or the hobby you’ve let go that lights you up? That business you want to create?
Sometimes life clears the path for us so that there is no other choice but to invest our energy into the dreams of our heart.
7.) Expect setbacks.
If we are chartering into unknown territory, we should expect challenges to arise simply because it is unfamiliar.
Remembering this can mean that we pivot towards the lessons and learnings, rather than personalising setbacks and feeling worse about ourselves.
Learning is a process: Take the lessons.
8.) Keep going.
Don’t stay in the rubble of your past: Keep moving forward on the bridge of change.
The path will appear as you walk it.
Overall, unexpected change can happen to all of us. In this process we must look after ourselves, hold a glimmer of trust, and focus on building anew in the direction of our heart.
Note: This article is independant of my professional association(s) and workplace(s).
© Marianna Jaross 2025
Commentaires