CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

Preface

Introduction

PART I: APPROACHING CHANGE

1.    The Transition Process

Transitions: A Definition

Today Is Not Forever

APPROACHING CHANGE: A Perspective

Your Transition

2.    Transitions: Their Infinite Variety

Elected Transitions

Surprise Transitions—When the Unexpected Happens

Non-Events: When the Expected Doesn’t Happen

Life on Hold: The Transition Waiting to Happen

Sleeper Transitions

Countertransitions: It Never Rains but It Pours

The Nature of Transitions

Types of Transitions: A Summary

Identify Your Transition

PART II: TAKING STOCK

3.    TAKING STOCK of Your Situation

Your Evaluation of Your Transition

Your Ability to Plan

Timing

Control of the Transition

Previous Experience

The Permanence of the Transition

The Rest of Your Life

Summarizing Your Situation

Your Situation Review

4.    TAKING STOCK of Your Self and Your Supports

Your Self

Your Supports

Putting It Together: The Case of David

Your Self Review

Your Support Review

5.    TAKING STOCK of Your Strategies

Strategies to Change or Modify the Transition

Strategies to Change the Meaning of the Transition

Taking Stress in Your Stride: Managing Reactions to Stress

Using Many Coping Strategies

Your Coping Strategies Review

PART III: TAKING CHARGE

6.    Your Action Plan for Mastering Change

Weathering Change

Initiating Change

Let’s Recap

7.    Taking Charge of Your Non-Event Transitions

Understand Your Non-Events

The Dream Reshaping Process

Specific Strategies for Coping with Non-Events

And in Conclusion

Your Non-Event Review

8.    Taking Charge of Your Work/Life Transitions

Handling Work and Family: Some Cases

Work/Life Transitions: Moving In, Through, and Out

To Summarize

Your Work/Life Review

9.    It’s Your Turn Now

The Transition Guide and Questionnaire

Putting the Parts Together

Moving Forward—Your Action Plan

Afterword: My Final Word: Make the Most with What You Have

Chapter Notes

About the Author