I have written about the transition period that follows change. In my last post, I shared inspirational quotes for the first stage of that transition period. In this post, I want to share inspirational quotes for the fertile void.
The fertile void is a nebulous space, a neutral zone, between The Ending and A New Beginning in your life. Because you have let go of your past (The Ending) and can’t yet see your future (New Beginning), this fertile void is mysterious and ripe with possibilities. William Bridges, who created this three-part transition model, urged people to spend “sufficient” time in this phase of transition. Set your own time schedule—whether that is a few days or several years—to explore, question, and rethink. Don’t let people who want something from you push you out of this fertile void before it can accomplish its purpose to move you in a forward direction that is best for you. Wait for that internal, psychological shift that is vital to your well-being and a healthy transition.
When change happens, it is almost always external, tangible, and visible. Your present change—something like a serious illness, a car accident, or the loss of a loved one—may be having a negative impact on your life but you must take time to examine your thoughts, feelings, and desires for the future. Even a positive change—like being promoted, changing to a more desirable career, getting married, or starting a family—will cause you to reexamine your life and shift your priorities as you move forward.
Here are some inspirational quotes for the fertile void that may help you stay on course to a new beginning, without retreating into the past.
“One doesn’t discover new lands without consenting
to lose sight of the shore for a very long time.”
Andre Gide
“Some changes look negative on the surface,
but you will soon realize that space is being created
in your life for something new to emerge.”
Eckhart Tolle
“Any transition serious enough to alter your
definition of self will require not just
small adjustments in your way of living
and thinking but a full-on metamorphosis.”
Martha Beck
“Those times of transition are great opportunities to
look for reoccurring patterns in your life and make
adjustments to build on the good and reduce the bad.”
Dan Miller
“Change is situational.
Transition, on the other hand is psychological.
Without a transition, a change is just a rearrangement of the furniture.
Unless transition happens, the change won’t work.”
William Bridges
What inspirational quotes for the fertile void would you add to my collection?