How to Reconnect with Yourself in Life’s Biggest Transitions

Life’s biggest transitions can leave even the strongest among us feeling unmoored. Whether it’s stepping into an empty nest, navigating a career change, or asking yourself “what now?” after a major milestone, one thing remains true: these seasons call for us to reconnect with ourselves. Without that grounding, it’s easy to slip into autopilot, feel stuck, or carry everyone else’s expectations instead of your own.

That’s why this week on The Kristi Jones Show, I’m diving into how to reconnect with yourself during life’s biggest transitions and how a few intentional practices can shift your perspective from lost to aligned.

Listen to the podcast here:

Why Transitions Feel So Disorienting

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Those big transitions, whether chosen or unexpected, have a way of shaking us at our core. Think about it: a divorce you didn’t see coming, a career you poured yourself into that suddenly ends, kids leaving the house after years of being your daily purpose, or even the bittersweet shift of retirement after decades of structure. These transitions don’t just change your schedule. They disrupt your identity, leaving you standing in unfamiliar territory, often with confusion, grief, or even relief mixed with guilt. Those feelings are normal. They’re part of being human, but staying stuck in them? That’s optional.

Transitions shake up the rhythm you’ve always known. For years, your days may have been defined by raising kids, showing up at a certain job, or meeting goals that gave you purpose. Then suddenly, the rhythm changes. Some people think it’s “just” about losing what was familiar but the truth is, it’s also about rediscovering who you are beyond that role, that title, or that season. When life hands you a blank page, the hardest part is often deciding what to write first. That gap can feel like standing in a fog: your old life isn’t quite there anymore, but the new one hasn’t fully arrived. In all of these, confusion and disorientation are natural but they’re also the doorway into growth, if you learn how to pause and reconnect with yourself.

Practices to Reconnect with Yourself During Transitions

Here are some grounding practices that can help you step into clarity and confidence during life’s biggest shifts:

1. Allow Yourself to Be Where You Are
   Don’t rush to “fix” your feelings. If you’re grieving, grieving is the work. If you’re lost, sit with the uncertainty. Judgment only delays healing.
2. Process Your Emotions, Don’t Bury Them
   Journaling, therapy, or even long walks where you let yourself feel instead of suppressing; it all clears space for wisdom to rise.
3. Take Time to Dream Beyond the Transition
   Instead of focusing on what ended, begin to imagine what’s possible. What desires have been buried under old roles or obligations? Let your imagination stretch.
4. Commit to 10 Minutes a Day of Visioning
   Picture your next season with clarity: What do your mornings look like? How do you show up at work, in relationships, with yourself? Visualization aligns your actions with your goals.
5. Reconnect with Joy in Small Ways
   When everything feels heavy, joy grounds you. Whether it’s cooking, painting, hiking, or dancing in your living room. Make space for play.
6. Anchor in Community
   You don’t have to navigate transitions alone. Find safe circles, whether through coaching, friendships, or groups where you’re supported, not judged.
7. Revisit Your Values
   Transitions are invitations to ask: “What really matters to me now?” Re-centering on your values ensures your next chapter is aligned with the life you want to live.

You’re Not Starting Over, You’re Moving Forward

It’s easy to think of transitions as “starting over,” but that diminishes the wisdom you carry with you. You’re not starting from scratch. You’re stepping into what’s next but this time you are wiser, stronger, and more capable than before.

If you’re in a transition right now or sense one on the horizon, this episode is your reminder that it’s definitely not the end. See it as a doorway to a new chapter, one that’s deeply aligned with who you are becoming.

If you’re ready for more ongoing guidance, accountability, and tools to flourish in every season, join us inside my monthly group coaching program: The Flourishing Edge Inner Circle.