Recovery is a part of transition-- often the most frustrating part. We hate to admit to ourselves that there is anything to recover from, that we must stop (or at least dramatically slow down), reassess what is going on, and take better care of ourselves. After all, if we had been taking great care of ourselves, we probably wouldn't be in a state of intense transition right now.

So what does recovery mean? According to Webster's Dictionary. Recovery is 1) the regaining of, or possibility of regaining something lost or taken away  2) restoration or return to health from state of sickness. Recovery has also come to be associated with an ending of substance abuse and repair of mental attitudes (as in Alcoholics Anonymous). So what do these definitions mean to someone in transition? How do we apply the tools of recovery to smooth over a difficult transition?

A wise man once said. When you try to drive for the first time in a new land, stop or go very slow and watch everything for understanding before you speed up. How much we in transition could benefit from such simple advice! In many ways being in an intense transitional state can feel like being a stranger in a strange land. We may feel "otherworldly" or "lost." To tend to these unresourceful states we must stop, get a better feel of our vehicle, and watch the landscape for subtlties.

In the words of a famous Television coach, we must also practice extreme self care. That is, taking care of our basic needs in a way that is newly sensitive and even overprotective of our bodies, emotions and health. This may mean getting a weekly massage, or eating more nutritional foods.

What can we hope to gain by following this two-fold advice: slowing down and taking extreme care? In short, we can gain understanding of what is to come, certainty as to our direction, and the strength that we will need to move forward in the brave new world that beckons us.