“Cancel Culture” —that’s the latest in trends that promote dismissing someone one if they have strayed from acceptable behavior or when life throws a curve ball and our “normal” changes. From professional athletes, well esteemed actors, politicians, to everyday human beings, people worry about being cancelled. But what if you are cancelled? What if you are no longer part of the accepted group or culture that society deems acceptable? How do you handle the backlash or your new state of being? How can you Turn Transition Into Triumph?
More importantly, how can you turn this experience into triumph?
You can call this experience a turning point, transition, milestone, or part of the life cycle, depending on what you are going through. For me, I like to say this change is a transition.
Moving to Richardson, Texas in the late 80’s from Brooklyn, New York, after my parents divorced and my mother’s untimely death was a difficult transition. I was a 16-year-old who loved basketball, going to church, and spending time with my friends. When I moved to Texas, I had no support system, but I refused to let the feelings of being an outsider stop me from playing basketball. Even though I wasn’t recruited or scouted for a basketball scholarship, I never lost the love of the game or my faith in God’s promise. I joined the Texas National Guard after high school and that experience helped prepare me for what would eventually come. Without the scholarship, I became a 5A head Girls Basketball Coach in the Dallas Independent School District.
Make Or Break
Transitions can either make us or break us. And while it is neither black or white, our response to this challenge, the gray moments, are where we can find our strength. You must however, be willing to stop and stay in those gray moments for as long as it takes and use this time to grow.
Reconnect With God
This is a perfect time to reconnect with God. He is closest when we are brokenhearted or when our spirits are crushed.
Here are some things to be mindful of in your moment of pause.
- Accept that you have a right to be hurt by this experience.
- Change isn’t easy.
- Loss can feel unbearable.
- You have the power to recreate what you desire if you so choose.
- God is near.
In the coming weeks, leading up to my group for teens and parents: Turning Transitions into Triumph, I’ll share the six concepts communication, technology, peers, and family that often show up during times of transitions. This unique group experience includes groups for parents starting on Tuesday, October 14th at 6 pm and teens on Saturday, October 19th at 10 am.
Until next week, remember, you are valued, loved, worthy, important and accepted.
Jeannine M. Gambles, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist- Associate
In fact, it is in your pain that God is closest to you, whether you realize it or not. The Bible says in Psalm 34:18, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (NIV).