In his book Life is in the Transitions, author Bruce Feiler writes about autobiographical occasions. He defines these occasions as “moments when we are encouraged or obliged to reimagine who we are. It’s a narrative event, when our existing life story is altered or redirected in some way, forcing us to revisit our preexisting identity and modify it for our life going forward.”
Have you experienced an autobiographical occasion? Perhaps a life-altering event has occurred and you have found yourself reconsidering everything.
There have been transformative moments in my life that have led to autobiographical occasions. Times when I have been drawn to reflect deeply on my life – relationships, work, where and how I’m living in any given season of my experiences.
The pandemic lockdown was a time when I was obliged to reevaluate and begin reimagining my life. Like so many others, my work as a certified funeral celebrant suddenly disappeared. First, there were no funeral or memorial services. Then, for a long time after they resumed, they were held in larger open spaces such as church sanctuaries. In a church, a clergyperson often officiated the service. I can think of only a handful of services I performed in the years 2020, 2021, and 2022.
There was and is something very rewarding about performing a funeral or memorial service. It is a privilege to assist a family in co-creating a ceremony to honor the one who has died. I cherish the times I’ve been invited into this process. Finding ways to make meaning demanded a level of careful listening and creativity. It called upon skills I had honed doing many other things including being a storyteller. I was humbled to serve families in this way.
Suddenly though, I had to reflect on what it was I could do, wanted to do, and was open to doing next.
As I write, I realize that I’m still in this moment. It has been four years since those 2020 days and I’m still in the process of this autobiographical occasion. It is a time for slowing down and thinking deeply. There have been many ways I’ve found helpful to assist myself in that process. Recently I’ve been completing a course on business development. Some of the questions asked in the course have inspired me to think in larger ways about my work experience.
Like so many of us, my work experience has been diverse. I’ve taught in formal and informal settings. I have written grant proposals as well as for many different publications. I have performed numerous funerals and coached grieving individuals as well as teaching grief-themed workshops.
And yet, I’ve also slipped in and out of the sense of momentum around my creative and work life that I once had.
I’ve had to mourn that change. To be present for all the feelings of loss, doubt, regret, and wonder. I am curious how others might be fairing with this process. Did the losses of the pandemic take you in a completely different direction? Did they demand that you too consider this season as an autobiographical occasion? Do you find you are still in this process?
A life transition coach like me can provide you with the resources and support to conduct your own autobiographical occasion. As a sounding board for your process, a coach can help you discover new insights on your current experiences. A coach can also bring vision to your process and help you unearth your way forward.
If you would like to consider the autobiographical occasion you are in, reach out and set a time for an exploratory conversation. We can connect and consider whether we are the right fit for co-creating your path forward. I look forward to hearing from you!
A watershed moments coach can come alongside your experience of grief and loss providing support, encouragement, education about the nature of grief and insight that can assist you as you mourn. Collaborating with a coach is an investment in finding your way forward after a significant life change. Connect with us for a brief introductory conversation where we will explore whether we are a fit for your current grief needs. Click here to schedule a no-charge, 20-minute conversation where we will learn more about one another.