How to deal with life transitions with Karen Herold

In this episode, transition counselor Karen Herold discusses how to navigate the ups and downs of transitions, including:
1. What core issues come up during a transition?
Change involves the external circumstance-the end of a deployment, for example. A transition is the emotional process you go through in reaction to a change.
2. What are the stages of transition?
The first stage of transition is the ending-you sell a house, or your job ends, or you move. The second stage is the neutral zone, and the third stage is a new beginning.
3. Why is it crucial not to skip over stage two?
It is crucial to give yourself time to sit with these feelings, to be intentional as you allow the uncomfortable feelings to happen. Do not bury these feelings and prematurely jump into the next stage, because if you do not address them now, they will come up later in life.
4. How can you identify your subpersonalities as they transition into something new?
Giving up your subpersonality may be a positive thing, but it involves an element of sadness because you invested a lot in that image, you were successful at it, and it defined you to an extent.
5. How do you deal with a family in transition?
Most of the time, transition does not happen in isolation. Unless you live alone, you have a spouse or children or other family members to take into consideration as you try to transition in a healthy way.