The Story Shift, Module One
Where you are invited to slow down, look back, and make space for what’s present.
Welcome.
I designed this course, The Story Shift, for people who are considering or in the midst of a career transition (although if you get creative, it could apply to any transition!).
Before we can shape where we’re going, it’s helps to acknowledge where we’ve been. Career transitions, especially the ones we didn’t choose, can sometimes leave us feeling untethered, unsure of who we are, or what comes next. It’s easy to rush ahead, to want clarity and closure. But there’s wisdom in the pause.
This first module invites you to slow down, look back, and make space for what’s present.
We’ll start with a guided reflection on your transition story so far, helping you name what’s shifting, what’s ending, and what you might be carrying.
Then, in The Power of Naming Loss video, I reflect on how career transitions often begin with loss. We explore how naming what we’ve lost, from identity to routine to belonging, is a powerful step toward moving forward with clarity and self-compassion.
From there, you’ll write a letter to name your loss (even if it’s a choice you’ve made with intention). This is not to fix it, but to witness it. This is where healing begins: by letting the truth of our experience be seen.
Finally, we’ll close with a guided meditation on sitting with ambiguity, offering a quiet space to breathe, listen inward, and soften around the edges of the unknown.
This module is about honoring what’s ending without rushing into what’s next.
It’s about presence, permission, and the power of being with what is so you can step forward with more clarity, wholeness, and choice.
Let’s begin.
A guided reflection on your transition story so far
Transcript:
Find a comfortable position, take a deep breath, and gently close your eyes if that feels safe for you. If not, simply soften your gaze. Let yourself settle into this moment. There is no rush. You are exactly where you need to be.
As we begin, take a moment to acknowledge the transition you are in. It may feel clear or messy, chosen or imposed. However it arrived, it is here. Breathe that in.
Now, I want you to imagine your life six months ago. Where were you? What did your days look like? How did you feel about your work, your role, your identity? Just notice, without judgment.
Now, bring your awareness to where you are today. What has shifted? What emotions are present? What questions are lingering?
Transitions can feel like freefall, like a loss of solid ground. But I want you to consider something: What strengths have carried you through this moment? Even if you feel lost, what within you is still steady?
Finally, imagine yourself six months from now. Not with pressure or expectation, just curiosity. What might life look like? What do you hope you’ll say about how you moved through this time?
When you’re ready, take another deep breath. Wiggle your fingers, your toes, and gently bring your awareness back to the present.
If it feels right, take a few moments to jot down any thoughts that surfaced. This is your story. And we are just beginning.
The Power of Naming Loss
Transcript:
Transitions are rarely just about moving forward. More often, they begin with loss. Whether you chose this change or it was chosen for you, something has ended. And with endings come grief.
We don’t often talk about grief in career transitions, but it’s there woven into the moments of disorientation, frustration, and even relief. Maybe you lost a title, a paycheck, a routine. Maybe you lost a sense of identity, belonging, or certainty. Maybe you lost relationships or a version of yourself that you once held close.
One of the most powerful things we can do in times of transition is to name our losses. Because what we don’t name, we can’t fully process. And what we don’t process, we carry in ways that can keep us stuck.
When we name loss, we acknowledge that something meaningful has shifted. We make space for the feelings that arise; not to dwell in them, but to move through them. Naming loss gives us permission to honor what was, so we can step into what’s next with more clarity and intention.
Loss in a career transition can take many forms. Some are obvious: income, stability, professional reputation. Others are quieter but just as significant: the sense of purpose you tied to your work, the community you built, the comfort of knowing exactly what comes next.
I invite you to take a moment and consider: What have you lost in this transition? What parts of your previous role, identity, or routine are you grieving? And what deserves to be acknowledged before you move forward?
Moving forward doesn’t mean forgetting or minimizing what’s been lost. It means honoring it, integrating it, and allowing it to shape the next chapter with intention. One way to do this is by writing a farewell letter to your previous role, your past self, or even the expectations you once had.
This exercise isn’t about dwelling in the past. It’s about giving yourself the closure you need to move forward with more freedom and self-compassion.
Let’s begin.
Exercise one: Your farewell letter
Instructions:
Take 10-15 minutes to write a farewell letter to your past role, career, or professional identity. This is a space to honor what was, acknowledge what has changed, and release what no longer serves you.
Your letter might include:
Gratitude: What did this role or identity give you? What did you learn?
Grief: What are you mourning? What was hard to let go of?
Reflection: How has this transition changed you? What will you carry forward?
Closure: What words of farewell do you need to say to fully step into what’s next?
Here’s an example format for leaving a challenging role (note: you might write it differently if you are writing about leaving a more joyful role, career, or professional identity):
Dear [previous role or identity],
You were a huge part of my life. For [#] years, you gave me purpose, structure, and a sense of belonging. I felt proud to be [title], and I poured so much of myself into this work. I will always be grateful for [specific lessons, people, or experiences].
But I also need to acknowledge what I might be losing/have lost. Leaving you will be/has been [describe your feelings and experiences], and I have struggled with [list any emotions].
At times, I’ve even wondered who I am without you. But as I step into this next phase, I know I am carrying [list the parts you take with you] with me while also making room for something new.
So, today, I say goodbye. Not with resentment, but with gratitude and release. You shaped me. And now, I am ready to move forward.
(End the letter in whatever way feels right for you.)
Note: If this is bringing up anything difficult for you, slow down, breathe deeply, and do something kind for yourself: go for a short walk, get a cozy beverage, focus on what's right in front of you. As always, aim for progress, not perfection.
A guided meditation on sitting with ambiguity
Transcript:
Find a comfortable position. Let your hands rest gently, your shoulders soften. If it feels safe, close your eyes. Take a slow, deep breath in... and exhale.
We live in a world that craves certainty. We want clear answers, quick resolutions, firm ground beneath our feet. But transitions don’t work that way. They are full of in-between spaces, of not knowing, of waiting. And that can feel uncomfortable.
But what if we could learn to be with that discomfort? What if we could sit in the ambiguity, not as something to be fixed, but as a space to listen?
Take another deep breath in... and exhale. Imagine each inhale filling you with steadiness. Each exhale releasing the need to have all the answers right now.
As you breathe, I want you to bring to mind the uncertainty in your life right now. The questions that don’t yet have answers. The parts of your path that feel unclear.
Notice what arises. Maybe it’s tension in your body, a tightness in your chest, a restless energy. Whatever it is, just observe it. You don’t need to push it away. Just notice.
Now, I invite you to shift your perspective. Instead of seeing this uncertainty as something to escape, imagine it as fertile ground. A space where something new is quietly taking root, even if you can’t see it yet.
What if, instead of fearing the unknown, you could trust that something meaningful is unfolding?
Breathe that in. The idea that you don’t need to have all the answers to be exactly where you need to be. That growth happens in the waiting, in the space between endings and beginnings.
As we bring this meditation to a close, take a moment to check in with yourself. How do you feel? What small shift, if any, has taken place?
When you’re ready, gently bring your awareness back to the room. Wiggle your fingers, your toes. Take one more deep breath. And when you feel ready, open your eyes.
Uncertainty is not a void. It is the space where possibility lives. And you are already in the middle of something beautiful unfolding.
Close out
And that’s a wrap on module one. Thank you for being here and for honoring this part of your story.
This work, naming loss, reflecting honestly, sitting with ambiguity, is not easy. But it is foundational. By acknowledging where you've been, you create space for what comes next to emerge with greater clarity and courage.
In module two, we’ll begin to shift from reflection into agency as you reclaim your role as the hero of your story. We’ll explore what it means to move forward not just with action, but with intention, aligned with your values and inner wisdom.
If anything surfaced for you during this module (questions, realizations, or even resistance) I encourage you to share it. Whether you post in the discussion space, send a message, or simply write it down for yourself, remember this: your voice matters, and you do not have to navigate this alone.
Transitions are tender territory, but they’re also fertile ground. Let’s keep walking it together.
If you know folks in your network who might find this useful, please do share it with them!
Between Chapters: The Story Shift
The Story Shift, Module One (this post)
The Story Shift, Module Two
The Story Shift, Module Three
The Story Shift, Module Four
Closing Out The Story Shift