My friend says I’m “fussy,” but I like to think of myself as discerning and sensitive. My nervous system is sensitive. I can tense up easily and am prone to anxiety. And I’ve noticed how this shows up in unexpected areas: transitions.

The ‘transitions’ I’m talking about here are those small, regular shifts from one thing to another during the day. For example,
From sleeping to getting up.
From being at home to getting ready to leave.
From driving to arriving.
From finishing a task to starting another task.
From sitting down to standing and moving.

I began to notice feelings of tension in those transitions. A tightness in my stomach, my breathing getting a bit shallow, a subtle feeling of anxiety. Thoughts like, “The thing I’m doing now feels known and comfortable. The thing I’m about to do feels unknown and requires change. I’m scared of change! I need time to prepare!”

That last bit feels key to me: I need time to prepare. Taking a little bit of time to mentally prepare for the transition, for the next activity, does wonders to help me feel calm and move smoothly. Ah, a bit of mindfulness!

I notice my tension.
I give myself time to transition at my own pace.
I appreciate my exquisite sensitivity (it’s actually a superpower, did you know?).
I do some relaxing breathing.
I envision the next step going smoothly. I map it out in my mind.
When I’m ready, I take a deep breath and make my move!

I allow myself to go slow, and you can, too. I’m with you.

Quiet yay,
Jonna