The image of a wooden suspension bridge across a deep chasm, came to mind during a recent coaching session with a client who is struggling to live the life of their dreams.
You’ve seen the image in so many movies … the heroine/hero desperately running toward safety is confronted by a rickety, wooden suspension creaking, swaying, seemling ready to collapse. And, crossing that bridge is the only way to freedom, safety, and the treasure.
I think that’s not a bad metaphor for the transition to the life of our dreams.
Here we are on this side of the chasm: dogged by stress … a stale, boring, job … or yearning to express our gifts. Between us and our new, shining, treasured ideal life is the chasm of transition.
And, moving through a transition is very much like making our way across that rickety, wooden bridge. The crossing sure as hell doesn’t feel safe. We gingerly step onto the bridge, much like we tentatively tip toe toward our new life. We hesitate. We want to turn back. But, we can’t. Because behind us only lurks our old life which no longer sustains us.
And, as we step further along the transitional path to our new life it feels even riskier. Often, in the movies, the bridge starts to sway as it is buffeted by winds. The same is true as we move through our transition: outside forces unexpectedly slam up against us. Will they blow us into the depths of depression? Or, will we gamely hang on.
Sometimes, in the movies, a wooden bridge plank will fall into the stygian depths. Similarly, as we transition to our new life old parts of us will fall away, lost forever. And, that’s a good thing. But, also very scary.
And, once we’ve made our way onto the bridge of transition we can not go back. Moving forward is the only option.
And, the good news is that even if we fall into the depths of depression, we can make our way out. For unlike a fall from that wooden suspension bridge, the fall into depression can expose us to hidden truths that will make us stronger — if we do some Inner work AND climb out!
