The Other Side of Change
“The best part of your story is when it changes.”
― Bella Bloom
James E. Hayes, D. Min., M. Div., Executive Director, DMPCC
Writers know this better than most of us: it’s all about the transitions, moving the narrative from point A to B in order to create a beautiful and compelling story.
I’ve noticed of late that it is difficult to make smooth transitions in the narrative we call life. I’m not sure how we were trained to think that change or transitions come easily. Ask any writer, transitions are often hard work.
Here are some of the examples I’ve encountered of late:
• A spouse has a health setback and you find yourself in a hospital room wondering, “How did I get here?”
• A family endures a work transfer and the kids find themselves in a new school
• A marriage is at a crisis point
• Your job description at work changes and you find yourself needing to learn new skills
• Your identity begins to come to full bloom and others seem surprised
• A lengthy career comes to a celebratory end and you wonder, “Now what do I do with my life?”
Each transition brings with it incredible stress and what might feel like insurmountable challenge. At such points, I am grateful that a place like the Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center exists. We’re here to help others come to understanding, hope and healing through counseling and education.
Why am I grateful? First of all, I’m biased because I think this is an awesome place.
More importantly, the above bullets are not hypotheticals, they are experiences that are recent content of my own personal narrative and folks who are significant part of my life story. I’ve done my best to walk with the people who are working their way through these transitions. There are times, however, that our personal support systems can’t quite handle the stress. It’s nice to know there are compassionate, highly trained professionals who can walk with us in these moments of transition. Sometimes it is our role to point folks in the right direction so that they can find the resources they need. I hope that when that happens, people think of the Center—and that their experience of us is truly one of understanding, hope and healing.
May we all discover at some point that on the other side of the transition or change is the best part of your story.
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