Perseverance: a supported journey
Dealing with psychological side of transitions
'Any change, even change for the better, is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts'
In this first graphic we can see that the process of losing your job takes you from a situation where you are in control to a place which is unpredictable and therefore fairly scary. Being out of work makes it difficult to make any time lines for the future which is something that we all like to do. Humans are creatures of habit, generally we like things that we ‘know about’ or are ‘familiar with’. So predictable events, even if they bore us are preferable to ‘not knowing’ and the uncertainty and ambiguity which that brings. Losing your job or not knowing what your future holds takes most of us to a very difficult place.
The transition curve below describes seven stages which are commonly experienced as a consequence of a life-changing event. The prospect of finding yourself unexpectedly in the job market can be daunting and with increasing age the stress of the predicament can be enormous. Many things will influence the way you respond; typically the events surrounding how you lost your job, your financial position, and your future employment prospects. It is widely recognised that a there is a common pattern of response which follows a major life change and it may be helpful to identify and acknowledge this pathway so that you can understand what is going on and hopefully move on as quickly as you are able.
This well-known model shows transitions have three discreet stages, endings, a neutral zone and then new beginnings. While these categories are not hugely surprising they may help us consider what we might do about our situation.
1.David Casey .
2. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, ‘On death and dying’ Touchstone press 1997 .
3. William Bridges.