How to follow through Big Transitions in Life?
My resume reads a radical shift in my title from a Product Manager to a Farmer. 5 years ago, I traded a city life for an unglamorous, semi-rural one for good. A year before that, I left my job to travel the world at an age of 27. But believe it or not, I’m not a guy who finds it natural to move on!
Transitions are not that simple
Many of us imagine our perfect life as very different from the current one. We daydream about how things would be so much easier if only we would crack an interview or have a supportive family or more money. That’s usually an oversimplification!
Any major life change is a long and hard process of adaptation. While the end goal is sweet and almost dreamy, you have to pay the toll with blood, sweat and tears. And don’t we hear it all the time from the other side that “It was all worth it.”? Speaking from personal failures, here are the 3 things which have made transitions easier for me -
1. Think Small
The world we live in is all about Speed and Scale. If you’re not thinking big, you’re not thinking right! This approach is useful to answer the dreaded “Where do you see yourself in 10 years?” question and high-level motivations. But, being able to think big is usually not an indicator of one’s ability to actually pull off that thing.
When we look out in Nature, most changes in living beings or ecosystems are organic. These changes need time to stabilise, or else they don’t become sticky. The probability of a single drastic step to sustain is pretty low in a stable environment. So, it’s much better to make incremental changes and trust the power of compound interest.
Very few people appreciate the true impact of Compound Interest. My aha moment was realising how soil fertility is a non-linear function of the regenerative practices on a farm.
2. Find your Tribe
Discover and connect with people with whom you can share your newfound life. Find co-travellers on a similar journey. Our individualistic culture brainwashes us that we alone have the power to do anything we set our mind to. But, we are social in everything we do. A sense of solidarity is at the core of what it means to be human.
Any key transition comes with its own set of challenges. If we have people with whom we can share these, that makes the process easier and more meaningful.
3. Set Feedback Loops
With all our ability for long-term planning and strategy, we’re creatures of the present. Our brains respond most positively to immediate feedback. In fact, a regular dose of positive response is almost necessary for our mental health. This dependency might sound like a handicap, but I don’t think it’s that bad in principle. Short-term feedback loops prevent us from getting completely lost. They ensure we’re grounded and not lost in our own head.
You can follow my journey here. But there is hardly a single recipe for any unconventional path. Every journey is unique and has its own set of challenges. Besides, how we handle change depends a lot on our style and personality. I’d love to hear your thoughts on dealing with major life transitions and what you’ve learnt so far. I’d also be happy to be a part of your tribe if you think there is any relevance.
