Do you dream of the day that everything in your life will be in order? I do! I often think that if I just do this and accomplish that, I will arrive at my idyllic life, my perfect self. I will know what the coming days hold for me, and I can imagine only smooth sailing ahead. But it seems that just when I get one area in my life sorted, I turn around and see two other areas out of alignment. When will I ever be done pushing my life into the ideal shape?
We each begin our journey of a thousand identities and a thousand adjustments from the moment we are born. Like a snake shedding its skin, we transition from infant to youth to adult. At times, stepping into our latest identity is so easy, it’s hardly noticed. Other times, the struggle is real! (Adolescence, anyone?) And then there are the identities we await so eagerly, it cannot happen soon enough. Becoming a graduate, an athlete, a manager, a retiree, a grandparent. Some identities we strive for, and others are thrust upon us. We hold multiple identities simultaneously: occupational, financial, relational, social, physical, metaphysical and spiritual. Adjusting to life’s bigger transitions and identity changes can be overwhelming at times and having strategies in place can help smooth out the process.
The fact is that we can never be finished evolving. And we will always need to adjust. So many things in life are unpredictable and out of our hands. What we can count on is change! It is inevitable. Adjustments are the strategies we use to adapt to these changes. Planning for and anticipating the need to make mid-course changes can help us trust in the journey. It is human nature to yearn for certainty, but life has a way of disrupting. Now, I am embracing the idea that life is exciting because we are never finished. Accepting that we may be on a different path from what was envisioned and walking that path with curiosity and openness will allow us to embrace new opportunities, new friends, and new identities.
But that doesn’t mean we have to travel alone. Sometimes the best way to adjust to new circumstances is with someone by your side- to listen, to guide, and to give support. Are you anticipating or have you recently experienced a major life transition? – a new child/ grandchild, a career change or new job, retirement, or the loss of a life partner? Having a trusted fiduciary financial advisor by your side can help you navigate the transition and help ensure you make a smooth landing into this unwritten new chapter of your life!