I woke up in Seattle, WA this morning and the fall weather greeted me with its crisp air and colorful scenery. Autumn is one of my favorite times of the year because of its signal to your senses. It’s time for new beginnings. The new school year, the new fiscal year, the beginning of the holiday season, and reconnection with the profound truth that our world is always in transition.

Transition is a funny thing. It’s easy for us to acknowledge what season the world around us is in because of the abundant certainty of our science, our calendars, and the boundaries we have constructed to define them. But when transition becomes the season of our personal journey, we sometimes have difficulty recognizing what’s happening.

As a coach, I’ve helped many clients through life and career transitions as well as having lived through many myself. Because of those experiences, I’ve come to define transition as the moment when you look back at where you’ve been and know that you are no longer satisfied in that place while feeling compelled to march forward having no idea exactly where you’ll end up.

Does this sound like you? If so, then here are 3 hard-earned tips to help you gain some clarity in your transition. 

Transition Tip #1: Your direction determines your destination

One of Steven Covey’s timeless 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is, “Begin with the end in mind.” Unlike most goal-setting, though, when we’re in transition all we know sometimes is where we no longer want to be and that we want some changes.

The problem is, not all change is good change. So, it becomes really important that we at least know what direction we want to go and have some certainty that the direction we’re taking will keep us heading into the future of who we want to become.

One of my mentors, Tony Robbins, likes to say, “You can head east looking for a sunset all your life, but you’ll never find it.” In other words, we can have a noble intention but pick the wrong strategy for becoming successful.

Is your strategy supporting your intention?

Transition Tip #2: What gets your attention determines your direction

Your perspective is everything in a season of transition. Have you ever heard the maxim, “Where focus goes energy flows?” It means that what we’re focused on determines where we’re headed.

When I was growing up, we used to go the mall with my aunt and she would stop in almost every single store that drew her interest through the storefront window. Getting easily distracted like that would turn a one-hour trip to the mall into an all-day event! It was exhausting and cost us the most precious thing we have on this earth – time.

Have you ever had this happen to you? You set out to get something done, but then find your focus floating into areas that are not helping you get where you want to be? If so, then maybe it’s time pay attention to what you really want in this moment and not on all the things you’re allowing to grab your attention.

Are you paying attention to what you want or is your attention being grabbed by distractions around you?

Transition Tip #3: Seek direction from wise sources so you can choose wise courses

Since a season of transition is defined by our inability to know exactly what our destination is going to be and we can easily feel uncertain about the direction we’re headed, this would be a great time to enlist the help of someone whose results you admire and whose wisdom you can glean.

I’m an avid book reader. And when I find myself in a new season or introduced to a possible new direction, I always pick up at least 3 books on the topic from those who have traveled farther down the road than I have. This helps me to see where I might need to strengthen things in my life that may be weak and identify the pitfalls to avoid when walking down a new path.

Other great ways to shorten your learning curve during a season of transition would be to ask for help from someone who’s been there and done that. Find a mentor, someone you admire and want to imitate, to agree to an interview where you can ask the questions that you need answers to. And getting a coach is always a good choice when you’re in transition because they can help you through the tough times when you’re not feeling like this season is ever going to end and point out patterns of your own behavior that are not serving your goals.

Are the sources you’re seeking wisdom from supporting your ability to make wise decisions?

Question: Got any hard-earned tips of your own? Share below and let me know if you have any great tips that you’ve learned through seasons of transition in your own life. I’d love for you to share your wisdom! You can leave a comment by clicking here.