074 I Thriving Through Transitions: You Don’t Have to Have It All Figured Out

Thursday, October 1 8:00 PM Mountain / 10:00 PM Eastern Register here: https://forms.gle/A9TrDUsqZAPKBjCL7 Thriving Through Transitions: You Don’t Have to Have It All Figured Out Have you ever been in a season of life where you thought, *“I should know what I’m doing by now”*—but you don’t? Maybe your career has changed. Your children are growing up. You’re caring for an aging parent. Your relationship looks different. You’ve moved, experienced a loss, or simply realized that the life you’ve been living doesn’t quite fit anymore. Transitions can bring a mix of emotions—excitement, sadness, relief, fear, hope, overwhelm, and uncertainty. And sometimes, the hardest part is feeling like you’re supposed to have everything figured out. In this episode of Communication Skills for Working Women, we’re talking about how communication can help you navigate life transitions with more clarity and confidence. You Don’t Have to Have It All Figured Out A transition is a process, not a straight line. Instead of asking yourself, *“What should I do?”* try asking: “What do I need right now?” You might need rest, information, support, time to think, a boundary, a difficult conversation, or simply someone to listen. Once you recognize what you need, the next communication skill is learning to say it clearly. You can say: - “I need some time to think about this.” - “I need you to listen right now. I’m not looking for a solution.” - “I’m realizing I need some help.” - “I don’t know exactly what I need yet, but I know something needs to change.” - “I’m still figuring this out.” You don’t have to understand everything before you communicate. You can communicate uncertainty. Look at Your Transition as a Whole We also talk about a simple timeline exercise that can help you see your transition differently. Think about a significant transition in your life and map what happened afterward. Some experiences may have been difficult, while others brought joy, hope, peace, growth, or unexpected opportunities. Seeing the whole timeline can remind you that transitions aren't usually a straight line. You can have a difficult day and then experience something wonderful. You can feel like you’re making progress and then suddenly feel uncertain again. Instead of asking, *“Why am I still struggling with this?”* try asking: “What is this part of the transition showing me?” and “What do I need now?” Your Communication Skill for Today Take one minute to pause and ask yourself: What am I feeling? What do I need? What is one thing I can communicate clearly? Your answer might lead to a conversation with your spouse, boss, friend, adult child, parent, or someone else in your life. You may need to ask for support, set a boundary, say no, clarify what you need, or simply tell someone: “I’m still figuring this out.” You don't have to solve the entire transition today. You just need to communicate the next thing. Join Our Free Thriving Through Transitions Workshop If this episode sounds like the season of life you're currently experiencing, Elizabeth and Rosemay invite you to join their free 60-minute Thriving Through Transitions workshop. This online workshop is designed for working women who are navigating a life transition and want a chance to slow down, reflect, connect, and identify meaningful next steps. Together, we'll explore where you've been, what you're experiencing now, and where you want to go next—with practical communication skills you can use beyond the workshop. Join us: Thursday, October 1 8:00 PM Mountain / 10:00 PM Eastern Register here: https://forms.gle/A9TrDUsqZAPKBjCL7 A replay will also be available for those who can't attend live. Know a woman who is navigating a transition? Share this episode with her and invite her to join you for the workshop. Remember A transition doesn't necessarily mean something is wrong. Sometimes it simply means something is changing. You don't need to know the entire path. Start with what you know. Ask yourself what you need. And communicate that next thing clearly. Because thriving doesn't mean everything feels easy or that you have all the answers. Sometimes thriving means giving yourself permission to be where you are—and then taking the next step. Speak Clearly and Listen Bravely.