DailyOM: Life Transitions

[Guest guest]

Today's DailyOM brought to you by:

 

 

 

 

 

& nbsp;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

& nbsp;

 

June 12, 2008

Life Transitions

The Death And Rebirth Of Self

Sometimes a part of us must die before another part can come to life. Even

though this is a natural and necessary part of our growth, it is often painful

or, if we don¢t realize what¢s happening, confusing and disorienting. In fact,

confusion and disorientation are often the messengers that tell us a shift is

taking place within us. These shifts happen throughout the lives of all humans,

as we move from infancy to childhood to adolescence and beyond. With each

transition from one phase to another, we find ourselves saying good-bye to an

old friend, the identity that we formed in order to move through that particular

time.

 

Sometimes we form these identities in relationships or jobs, and when we shift

those areas of our life become unsettled. Usually, if we take the time to look

into the changing surface of things, we will find that a shift is taking place

within us. For example, we may go through one whole chapter of our lives

creating a protective shell around ourselves because we need it in order to heal

from some early trauma. One day, though, we may find ourselves feeling confined

and restless, wanting to move outside the shelter we needed for so long; the new

part of ourselves cannot be born within the confines of the shell our old self

needed to survive.

 

We may feel a strange mixture of exhilaration and sadness as we say good-bye to

a part of ourselves that is dying and make way for a whole new identity to

emerge in its place. We may find inspiration in working with the image of an

animal who molts or sheds in order to make way for new skin, fur, or feathers to

emerge. For example, keeping a duck feather, or some other symbol of

transformation, can remind us that death and rebirth are simply nature¢s way of

evolving. We can surrender to this process, letting go of our past self with

great love and gratitude, and welcoming the new with an open mind and heart,

ready for our next phase of life.

 

What do you think?

Discuss this article and share your opinion

Want more DailyOM?

Register for your free email, or browse all articles

& nbsp;

 

Share the OM:

 

 

 

 

 

Email this to a friend

 

 

Printable version

 

 

Save in My DailyOM

 

 

Discuss this article

Today's friend of OM:

The Way of Story Writing Course offers an integrative approach to writing

narrative, combining solid craft with experiential inner discovery. This 16 week

course contains will teach you to develop story, character, & amp; theme into a

coherent, emotionally consistent, & amp; marketable story outline. For writers of

all levels & amp; all narrative forms including plays, screenplays, stories,

novels, & amp; memoir.

For more information visit Dailyom.com/courses

From the Library:

Why people Don't Heal and How They Can

by Caroline Myss

More DailyOM:

Browse the Library Today's Horoscopes Shop the Marketplace Join the Community

 

Home | Gift Shop | My DailyOM | Marketplace | Community | Archives | Share The

OM | Contact Us

Subscribe | Change Email | User Settings | Un | Privacy Policy |

Disclaimer | Gift Shop FAQ | Advertising Info

Make DailyOM Your Homepage | Link To Us | Publish DailyOM On Your Website

© 2004-08 DailyOM -

No portion of this site can be reprinted without express permission

Artwork by Wang Chang-Ming