Change freaks a lot of people out. Even those of us who swear we’re not impacted by a shift away from what we’ve become used to, often show signs of a pushing against change.

Recently I became aware of the fact that I’m in a Transition, both in my life and in my work.

In my personal life, relationships I have with people are ending, I’ve recently become a homeowner, I’m about to take on the renovation of a house, I’ve noticed a shift in my attitude towards the way I spend my time and the people I surround myself with.  In my work, long held beliefs are coming to an end, new projects that push my comfort level are presenting themselves, our team is growing, and my role is shifting.

Some of these things are good, some not so good, some are exciting, some confusing. It’s change, yes, but it’s also more than that.

It’s transition. It’s a shift into a new way of being, working, and thinking.

Change in large doses and in many areas at once is what to me feels like transition.

There is a part of me that loves this. And there is a part of me that is absolutely terrified.

What if I can’t handle all that’s about to come my way?

What if I’m not good at the new way of things?

What if I miss the old too much to appreciate the new?

It can all be a little overwhelming, especially when you haven’t yet identified what’s happening. I didn’t realize this transition in my life right away. I just had a slight feeling of uneasiness in my belly; a tingle that made me wonder if something bad was about to happen. It took me a little while to really understand that this feeling was coming from being in a state of transition.

Once I realized what was happening, I was able to start accepting it and to use it to my advantage.

Because, here’s the thing, change is inevitable in life and for sure in business. When a lot of change happens at once, we can be tempted to push back, stand our ground, refuse to go along with it.

But when we can learn to appreciate it, the ball is back in our court. Appreciating the transition helps you make better decisions, be OK with the decisions you’ve already made, dream big about possibility, set new goals, and bring fresh excitement into your life.

It’s all about focusing on the positive aspects of being in a transition. Which I think is the only way to do it.

Because remember, we have no idea how to long it will last, and if we expel all our energy trying to stop change, we’re left not in the same place we always were but in a new place that’s much less desirable.

It’s a place where possibility has been extinguished, ideas tossed out, creativity stunted, exploration and discovery gone.

And I don’t know about you, but those are all things that I want in my life. I want to grow and evolve. And if the only way to do that is to accept transitions as they come and use them to propel my self forward, then that’s what I’ll do.

Embrace the transition, designers, as best as you can.

Lots of love and encouragement,

The post Fashion Business Owner Musings: Learning to Appreciate Times of Transition appeared first on StartUp FASHION - On a mission to help independent designers make a living doing what they love.