Navigating Transitions: Finding Hope To Light The Way
I’ve been a member of Toastmasters International, an organization that teaches its members public speaking and leadership skills, for over six years. You may know that public speaking is often considered a fear worse than death on the stress scale. In Toastmasters meetings, you learn these skills naturally as you give speeches and take on various roles for each meeting. On August 7, the theme for our meeting was lighthouses because it was National Lighthouse Day.
Portland Head lighthouse — Cape Elizabeth, Maine
At that meeting, I was the Table Topics Master. The Table Topics Master chooses a topic or follows the theme of the day, creating questions to ask members in relationship to the topic. For me, a lighthouse symbolizes a guiding light and hope, coming out of the darkness into the light. It’s a beacon of hope. Years ago, a lighthouse guided ships during a storm or at night to a port.
Several members answered the following questions extemporaneously:
- Who or what was your guiding light during one of your life transitions?
- What did that person say and/or do that helped you through a difficult life challenge (such as choosing a college to attend, losing a loved one, moving to a new neighborhood or state, going through a divorce are retiring from your lifelong career)?
Those who answered usually chose a parent, another family member, mentor, or close friend and talked about how that special person was their light of hope for a better future or outcome.
As Barbra Streisand said in her famous song, “people who need people are the luckiest people in the world.” Even an introvert needs to have one or two people in their life to support them in their life or work transitions. They become a beacon of light in the sometimes tumultuous seas of a difficult transition.
Hope As A Beacon Of Light
When I was a senior in high school, I had no idea what I wanted to do to further my educational growth. It was a confusing time because I was not encouraged to go to college by my school counselor. I was rather lost. I decided that I would go into the military. Way back then, few women were venturing into that career. I was all set to enlist when my father quickly intervened. He let me know, in no uncertain terms, that no daughter of his was going into the service. With no other options, my dad encouraged me to enroll in a local community college.
During my first year, I took a one-year psychology class with a lab where we did experiments. I was so inspired by our instructor, Dr. Pool, who by the way reminded me of Ichabod Crane. He was tall and thin and just had that look. However, he made our learning experience so interesting and exciting. With my dad’s insistence that I go on to college and Dr. Pool’s enriching psychology class, I found a guiding light of hope. I began pursuing more psychology classes and embarked on an educational journey into the field of psychology.
What Is Hope?
Hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. It requires optimism, confidence, and faith that with the right support and proactive behavior on your part, you will create a positive outcome from any transition experience.
We all need that light of hope that shines on the path of your life. It’s critical as a coping and resilience skill.
- Who was that person for you?
- What did they say or do that inspired you?
- How, if you are going through another life or work transition, can you reignite that hope and/or find that person in your life that can help you on your journey?
Most of the clients I work with come in with life challenges that require a transition from one stage of being to another. They’ve been using coping skills that aren’t working, and they need to find other more positive skills to ensure a better outcome. It requires self-reflection and the belief, hope, and determination that they will get through whatever it is they are dealing with. I work with them to create realistic expectations that will give them their own sense of hope to move forward.
How Can You Find Hope?
When faced with a life transition that is overwhelming you:
- Find a mentor or trusted person who can partner with you on your journey
- Create a realistic plan towards the outcome you want
- Take small steps to make sure you meet with success
- Focus on what you can do and not what you can’t do
- Stay calm and grounded in the face of obstacles and be ready to redirect
- Don’t give up!! Believe in yourself and find others who believe in you
To come full circle back to Toastmasters, I just read a story about the passing of one of our past Toastmasters’ International presidents, Bob Barnhill. He had been a leader not only as an attorney and CPA, but also in Toastmasters for decades. Bob was diagnosed with ALS seven years ago but continued his dedication to his work in law and finance as well as Toastmasters until the end of his life. When asked in a 2013 interview how he wanted to be remembered, his response was, “As a teacher of hope. I want people to sit back and say, ‘You know, he put hope in my heart. He gave me the ability to believe that tomorrow can be a better day and not to quit, not to give up…. And because of that, I have a light.'” (Toastmasters’ Magazine, 8/2018)
Find your hope. Find your guiding light and make the very best of the life and work transitions that life presents to you.
Dee
Dee Cascio
Author, speaker, Licensed Psychotherapist, Certified Life Coach, Retirement Lifestyle/ReCareer Coach, and Life and Work Transitions Strategies Coach.
As you face changes and transition in life and work, I welcome the opportunity to assist you through corporate presentations, group seminars, and community workshops, please contact me.
Let me help you find hope along the way
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Ready To Retire? Successful Retirement Planning To Make The Best Of The Rest Of Your Life Updated with more information about replacing the benefits that work provides
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You’ve joined a great group — people who plan to make successful transitions in life and work. May you be inspired to use your strengths and skills to grow in this season and may each transition be your best ever.
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