In the past couple of weeks I’ve been reminded of how quickly things can change and not always for the better.  Relationships that we thought were solid are now crumbling. Loved ones who were happy, healthy and vigorous are now sick and dying.  Jobs that we thought were stable and recession-proof are suddenly gone.  Homes that were our biggest investment have become liabilities.

And, is it just me, or does it seem like the pace of change is accelerating?

If you need proof that our world is changing at the speed of light, watch the 2008 update of the video Did You Know? on YouTube. Some of the statistics in this short video are absolutely astounding to me, including:

• The largest English-speaking country will soon be China
• The ‘hottest’ jobs in 2010 did not even exist in 2004 (for example, green jobs, social media marketing)
• Today’s students will have 10 to 14 jobs by the age of 38
• 1 in 2 workers has been with their current employer less than 5 years

While I know that change is a fact of life and necessary for growth and development, sometimes it is hard to let go of ‘how it used to be.’  But, let go we must.

In his classic book, Transitions, William Bridges tells us that all change begins with an ending.  Bridges recommends formally marking the end of what used to be with a ritual of sorts.  I remember years ago, working for a company that was acquired.  There was a lot of sadness and nostalgia for the way things used to be.  A very smart person in our office (not me) organized a meeting to mark the end of the old company.  The employees gathered together in the breakroom and ceremonially burned our old business cards.  Then, we each received our new business cards imprinted with the acquiring company’s name and logo.  There was even a cake to help celebrate our new beginning as part of a larger organization.

What big changes are you currently facing and how are you dealing with the transition?