Recommended Books
He differentiates three phases of change which I spoke about and compared them to quitting, climbing, and camping. The first phase is Endings; letting go, some grief, and possibly some relief. There are lots of questions here about power, influence, security, meaning and relationships because there has been a major change with something very important ending. The second phase is the Neutral Zone which is the inbetween area of change. People feel disoriented and they know something is ending but they don't know what is starting. Bridges talks about this area as having much potential for innovation and creativity. There's nothin' on the table, so there can be breakthrough opportunities. Sometimes this is a very important time. Remember that a beautiful butterfly has to be first a worm, then in the neutral (camping?) place of a coccoon. Then, with pain and determination, s/he bursts out to be a beautiful creature; just what they were meant to be. Remember that a seed needs to lie fallow to be able to sprout into the plant or tree that it was meant to be. This is also the best time for Transition Life Coaching as it provides the encouragement and allows the exploration which people are camping in the Neutral Zone. New Beginnings is the time when you've climbed to the summit with new rules, new roles, and a new place. Now there's excitement and a much more positive mood about a new commitment and a the new vision. When people reach this level, Bridges says, they have a new sense of purpose because they've discovered a new plan and they know what part they have to play. But, Bridges says, don't rest on your laurels because there's a new change a commin' and you get to start the whole process again. This time, however, you have the skills to reach that next new level.
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My most highly recommended book is A Life Worth Leading, which I wrote a couple years back. It's a great book that starts with realizing that people are yearning for purpose, direction, and significance in lite Even more, people are searching for a faith that can transform their lives. It's a Lutheran reading of many of the books and resources that lead people toward the quest for significance. It's a process guide to discovering meaning and purpose in your life, with questions for reflection at the end of each chapter.
William Bridges has done the most ground breaking work on change and transition. In his book, Transitions: Making Sense of Life's Changes: Strategies for Coping with the DIfficult, Painful, and Confusing TImes In Your Life he makes the important distinction between change and transition. Change is external; it's what happens to you. Transition is internal, and it's how you deal internally with the external change around you. You can't control external change. But you are the only one who can control internal transition.
His second book is The Way of Transition: Embracing Life's Most Difficult Moments. This book is more of a gentle telling of his story through his major career change; the death of his wife and other struggles before he met his second wife. If you're a "T" on Myers Brigge you'd like the first book as it's a little more linear and a kind of text book. If you're am "F" on the Myers Briggs you'd like the second one as it's more of a feeling book. Both, however, are excellent.
Joan Borysenko, Ph.D. has a recent book entitled It's Not the End of the World: Developing Resilience in Times of Change. This is one wonderful book. On the back of the book she writes, "I wrote this book to teach you how to hold fear in the plam of your hand without being burned by its fire. I know that you can do it. Whatever many going on for you, remember...it's not the end of the world. It's a call to the genius that lies asleep within you--and within all of us--a genius that is ready and able to re-create the world." It's a great read about confidence toward the future, not matter what that past holds over you. You are the only one in charge of your future. Truly, it's a book that helps develop resilience in times of change.