I call life’s curveballs “Life Quakes.” And like any quake, there may be ripple effects.
Life quakes are disruptions to the norm. The change may be externally perceived as positive, such as a retirement. Anyone who has retired can confess that much is changing – routines, expectations, friends, and money.
And that is the thing. As Susan Bradley founder of The Sudden Money Institute says, “When life changes money changes, when money changes life changes”.
How we respond to a life quake can make all the difference to outcomes. As in life, response generally outperform reactions.
There are four parts to a life quake - Anticipation, Ending, Passage, and New Normal. Sometimes, such as in a layoff or unexpected tragedy, there is no anticipation. Ending is the starting place.
Anticipation of a life quake can evoke flowing responses or struggling reactions. There are those who approach change with competition and those who find change very difficult to embrace. You know your personality best.
Ending stage can further trigger traits of inability to move forward getting stuck in the emotional turmoil of the change event (death, loss of job, retirement, move, etc.). Adults and children alike will have a host of emotions.
Passage is part of moving forward even if forced to. The steps to process the change, complete needed actions, and take one step at a time in hopes of a better day tomorrow.
New normal is looking back on the transition with better perspective, not in an effort to forget, just the ability to know it is in the past.
There are people like us at Affinity Wealth Advisory Group who can assist in life’s transitions with widows, divorcees, or professionals experiencing career or business changes. Call for a complimentary consultation to learn more about help in life’s transitions.
Read more articles by Kristin Evans