Moving from one place to another is never easy. Literally and figuratively. It’s that in-between that is most uncomfortable. But more often than not, once you get past that transition period, it will be like the dawn of a new day.

We recently moved to a new apartment and we went through about a month of planning, looking for a new place, awkward discussions and not to mention packing and cleaning! It was through this move that I was reminded how transitions are inevitable and never easy. But I learned a few things that made going through it a joy.

You may not be going through an apartment move like me. But most of us are probably in a transition period. Waiting for the next job, moving to another country, getting married or perhaps just waiting in general for what’s next in your life. May these four simple inspirations help you find joy in whatever transition period you are in.

Find Opportunities

When you are at the brink of change, it’s easy to focus on the negatives. What can help is seeing the opportunities instead of the limitations. It’s amazing how much stuff you can accumulate over the years. As we were packing, I took the opportunity to get rid of or give away some items that I no longer use.

If you just left your current job and looking for another, take the opportunity to do the things that you couldn’t do because you were so busy with your job. Like exercise or cooking that dish you’ve always wanted to try. Organize your life as you prepare for the next busy season or polish up that resume so you can get the best job. Whatever it is, there are always opportunities!

Fight Procrastination

It is so easy to listen to Bruno Mars say “today, I don’t feel like doing anything” when you are in the midst of a transition and unite with fellow procrastinators, tomorrow. Actually, for some, transitions may be busy rather than idle. Either way, it’s going to be a fight to be productive. So manage your time well. Oftentimes, we procrastinate because we find the task too overwhelming. Try and divide the tasks to smaller chunks or change your environment to make it more enjoyable and less tempting to just sleep.

Click here for an article on Time Management.

Face Your Fears

Change can be scary. Some transitions like moving to a new country can be intimidating. So the natural response is to be afraid. But facing your fears does not mean focusing on them but rather attacking them head on. List the things you are not looking forward to and focus on finding the solutions to counteract discouragement.

Unhealthy fears are meant to intimidate you because they open doors for you to make up stories. For example, moving to a new country may mean making new friends and that can create fears because you are now making up a story of being rejected because no one’s friendly. So try and shift your story to “whoever my new friends will be, it will be an opportunity for me to add value to their lives and theirs to mine”.

Forward Thinking

Finally, have a vision. Think of what’s ahead. A mother who is pregnant may have the most uncomfortable 9 months of their lives but ask any mom and they will say that those times are nothing in comparison to seeing their new born child. Don’t just be a spectator of the hardship but be the anticipator of the best that is yet to come.

Each of us have gone through various changes in life in one way or another. And as real as the temptation to focus on the hardships is, finding joy in the midst of them will make us enjoy life rather than dread it.

When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. John 16:21–22 (ESV)

As posted on joytalavera.com