Transitions in Medicine: Don’t Rush the In-Between

Transitions were the theme of my yoga class tonight. It is turning into spring in California, and my class is held around sunset.

I myself am also moving through a big life transition.

I have so many thoughts and feelings about the good and bad of my decision to pivot in my career—my learnings, the grief, the relief, and the possibilities for newness ahead. Much to share on another day.

Today, though, I’m choosing to focus on something simpler:

Pausing and being present for the transition itself.

Transitions are most of life

Transitions are what make up the bulk of our lives.

In yoga, we spend more time in transitions than we do in the poses themselves.

And when you don’t pay attention to the transitions, the outcome of the pose can be confusing at best.

This is equally true in life—and even in the rhythm of a single day.

Kids are a constant reminder of how many transitions exist:

waking up
getting out the door
leaving the park
bedtime
the tiny handoffs and pivots that shape a whole day

As adults, we’re often so busy we don’t even notice them.

The in-between is where you learn

Yoga reminds me that transitions are not dead space.

They are the practice.

They are where you learn how to steady yourself.

How to breathe.

How to choose.

How to stay connected to your body instead of abandoning it to hurry.

Whether they are big transitions or small ones, the process of transitioning and transforming is as important as the “end result.”

And in busy lives—especially in medicine—we often cruise right on by.

Consider slowing down and experiencing the transitions happening in your life.

Don’t just rush through.

This is part of full-spectrum living.

Magnolia blooms, cherry blossoms, bedtime with small children, and sunsets are all reminders of the beauty in transitions.

Blooming is the transition between bare branches and leaves on a magnolia tree.

I wouldn’t want to miss it.

And I don’t want you to miss your own becoming either.

If you’re in a career transition in medicine and you know you can’t keep practicing the same way, but you’re not sure what “next” looks like—this coaching helps.

You don’t need to rush to the end.

You can learn how to move through the in-between with clarity, steadiness, and intention.

Transition Well Group Coaching. If you want personalized support, 1:1 coaching is the most efficient path to clarity.