Respite Reflections’ purpose is to help people push the “pause” button in their transition work — to take a break from the thinking, researching, networking and preparing for interviews.
Taking a moment to center yourself, ponder a positive thought, and focus on a broader perspective is invaluable during a time of transition.
“Right now you are one choice away from a new beginning.”
– Oprah Winfrey
How often people wish for a “new beginning” and yet find themselves engaging in old habits of negative thinking? Perhaps all that is needed is a view from upside down in order to see the situation from a different perspective.
A map titled “Who said ‘north’ was up?” hangs in my office. It shows the United States “upside down” at the bottom of the map. All other countries appear upside down as well, but that is only because we have been trained to see the world only in one way.
We may also have been trained to see ourselves – and others – in only one way. Through dialogue and communication, trust and openness, perhaps we can learn new ways of seeing and embark on new beginnings that will take us much farther than we ever thought we could go.
Dr. Connie Popp is a board member for The Center for Life Transitions as well as an active facilitator for the Center’s Life-SHIFT and Job Search Courage programs. She is also the Director of Campus Ministry at Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Read more.