The transition nobody talks about.

The transition nobody talks about. The one where you’re going from one level to the next. Like a staircase, but like … the one with 3 flights of steps between each floor (yes, the most annoying one). You finally get to the next level (maybe it’s floor 2 or 4 or 17 for you). You’re out of breath … tired … but this is the moment you’ve been waiting on. You open the door and boom! Now, there’s a whole new world to figure out. Now change the scenario to real life.

That’s what this transition has been like for me. OUT. OF. BREATH. Everyone talks about the next level, nobody talks about what it takes to get there, or even what you’re supposed to do when you arrive. You’ve worked super hard to level up and now you’re tired but yet, you still have to figure out what the next level is going to be like. You’re ready to stop walking but also, you’re excited to see what the new venture looks like.

For example, law school is finally over … what’s next? I had a life before school … it’s not the same now. The seasons have changed while I was under a rock, studying, trying to survive. For 3 years, I was studying hours upon hours on end (not even counting life before law school). I may have snuck out for a day of fun, but that was a day that I probably regretted because then I was behind in class. Always playing catch up. Always prepping for the next class or exam. Sometimes experiencing a glimpse of light whenever I was successfully prepared. Not to mention dealing with life … a life that was coming at me fast. Then, I graduated and studied 10 hour days to prepare for the bar exam. Now the exam is over. The law school level is complete. I’m ready to begin work but like, now what? What’s after that?

It may seem simple to just “join the work force” or “start a business.” But there are feelings that we don’t discuss. How do we deal with those? The uncertainty of what’s next. Will I like this new level? Will I grow here? Will this be the happiness I’m working towards? What’s next? (Find out on the next episode of the TheColeReality lol). These are the thoughts and questions that are often times left open-ended. I can’t be the only person who feels like this across the country. For example, after college (especially undergrad or even high school) you’re in this transition. You accomplished a goal but you have to find out what’s next and how to tackle it. What do you want to be? Or better yet WHO do you want to be? Do you want to re-invent yourself? 

So lately I’ve been trying to identify the feeling. I’ve determined it feels like that flight of stairs from the beginning. School and my previous jobs are the stairs … the part that makes you out of breath. For you maybe it was leaving a job, starting the business, or leaving your home state –whatever it was it took work and stamina. Now I’m in front of the new floor … work and building a life and legacy. Maybe for you the door is your first year of business, or releasing new music, or going back to school, or starting a new job.

One thing I know is, nobody knows what to expect. In Wale’s song The Matrimony the intro made a great point. It says that you can’t be ready for growth because it’s going to be new. You’ll have a new life and you’ll be a new person. I think that’s the way to view opening the door to the next level. And we (I mean me) would love a blueprint, but your journey is uniquely yours. You don’t know what will happen, you don’t know who you’ll grow to be in the next challenges and the next years. But I do know that going forward is always better than moving backward.

I’m in front of a new door. Maybe you are too. For me, I’ve decided to write out the next steps. That way, I can break goals down into small steps.

• My first step, creating a new routine for this level. Consistently scheduling my day, going to the gym daily, identifying a self-care day, a cleaning day, etc.  
• Once I have the new routine down, I’ll set goals for this level. Where do I want my career to be in 1 year? What goals do I have for my wardrobe? Do I have any house goals? —This may seem minuscule but different phases of life create different tastes in clothes and home décor!
• Finally, I’ll find new influencers. What people are already on the journey I’m living? Do they give advice? How are they handling this phase? Nobody is perfect but it helps to visualize where you’re going.

I can’t say that these steps are the for sure way to be successful. I’m living this journey right along with you. All I know is, I’m going forward. I hope you come with me.

Let’s get it. Until next time …

Nicole

Photography credit:

Left picture & embedded picture shot by Donatello Visuals – Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donatellovisuals/)

Right picture shot by Nicholls-Pierce & Company – Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nichollspierceco/