From Stress to Adventure

Ten tips to transform your move into a creative life transition.

1. Ask, "Who am I? What do I need to be happy?"

Sometimes you don't realize what you love until it's gone. My book has several exercises to help: Weekly wrap-up, Protected Witness and more!

2. Hire professional packers -- or be your own pro.

When you pack, you open up the hidden places. Packing up the attic, basement or messy kitchen drawer, will force confrontation with a part of the self that has not been visited for years. Often "I have" means saying "I am."

Professional packers do not make judgments. They do not sort through your closets, sighing over the pants that won't fit anymore. They pack everything.

If you pack your own household, follow the example of the pros.

Pack everything. Pack fast. And don't judge.

3. Pack an emotional first aid kit.

Packing your best intentions isn't enough.When you undertake a voyage into the unknown, you pack sunblock, Band-Aids, and insect repellent, as well as the basic medications for unexpected encounters with local food and water.

For your first six months, prepare an emotional first aid kit to deal with stresses you are likely to encounter.

4. Honor your new Home.

As you unpack, play your favorite music and enjoy your favorite foods.

Arrange one room -or one corner of the room-to look familiar. Some people create a ritual of settling in to make the new house their own.

5. Create your own tugboat.

Think of a tugboat that guides an ocean liner out of the harbor. Ocean liners are designed to move smoothly on the high seas and they need special handling while they're close to shore. For the first six months in your new Home, create your own tugboat -- a temporary identity that can be released with gratitude when you reach cruising speed on the high seas.

6. Make new friends by doing what you love.

Fill your life with activities that will be creative and fulfilling. When you nurture yourself, you communicate strength and confidence to others. If you are seen as vulnerable and needy, you will attract negative people and negative experiences.

7. Be your own best camp counselor.

Camp counselors, boarding school directors and drill sergeants know: If you fill the time, newcomers won't have time to be Homesick. Fill your own schedule!

8. Celebrate everyday life.

Think small.
A walk around the lake.
A perfect cup of coffee in a nearby Coffee shop.
A friendly face at the local hardware store.

Listen for the moments when you say, "I could get used to this..."

9. Ask The Big Move Question: Can I still be me?

Moving interrupts identity. The secret to a successful move depends on how you answer the question, "Can I still be me?"

10. Embark on an adventure.

Believe it or not, many people love to move and describe their relocation as a great adventure! I like to compare moving to time travel. After the moving van has been loaded, you go to sleep in a bare room. The next morning, you wake up to a world of exciting possibilities.

No matter what happens, you will find at least one pocket of joy in your new life. Everyone I've interviewed said, "Even when I was happy to move, there was always something I hated to leave behind.

"And even when I dreaded moving, there was always something wonderful that I had never expected."

Details of each point can be found in Making the Big Move, originally published as a trade paperback, now available for instant download.

About The Author

Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., is an author, speaker and career/Business consultant, helping midlife professionals take their First step to a