Navigating Life Transitions: The Bridges Model Explained

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Cognitive decline can accelerate after retirement unless individuals engage in new activities or roles. The Bridges Transition Model illustrates three key stages during change: the ending, the neutral zone, and the new beginning. The ending phase involves recognizing and managing the losses experienced due to change. This is followed by the neutral zone, a transitional space where the old identity is gone but the new one has yet to be fully established. The new beginning is characterized by a release of energy towards a fresh identity. Research indicates that individuals who recognize these stages tend to experience more successful transitions, feeling happier and more fulfilled. Those who approach retirement with an understanding of this process report lower levels of anxiety and depression, highlighting the importance of planning for the future and embracing change. The struggle to let go of the past often stems from fear of what lies ahead, but acknowledging the possibility of transformation can facilitate a smoother transition into new phases of life.

Should government jobs have mandatory retirement ages? Is it foolish to care about your legacy? And why did Jason always call Angela’s father “Dr. Lee”?

SOURCES:
- William Bridges, professor emeritus of American literature at Mills College, consultant, and author.
- Arthur Brooks, professor of leadership at Harvard University.
- Jimmy Carter, former President of the United States and founder of the Carter Center.
- Erik Erikson, 20th-century psychoanalyst.
- Craig Fox, professor of management at the University of California, Los Angeles.
- Daniel Kahneman, professor emeritus of psychology and public affairs at Princeton University.
- Mitt Romney, U.S. Senator from Utah.

RESOURCES:
- "Congress Today Is Older Than It's Ever Been," by Geoffrey Skelley (FiveThirtyEight, 2023).
- "America’s Bosses Just Won’t Quit. That Could Spell Trouble," (The Economist, 2023).
- "At What Age Is Your Brain the Sharpest?" by Kendra Cherry (Verywell Mind, 2023).
- "Mitt Romney Announces He Won’t Seek Reelection as He Calls for ‘New Generation of Leaders’," by Clare Foran (CNN, 2023).
- From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life, by Arthur Brooks (2022).
- "Psychological Research on Retirement," by Mo Wang and Junqi Shi (Annual Review of Psychology, 2014).
- "Daniel Kahneman in Conversation with Craig Fox," (2004).
- "The Psychology of Life Stories," by Dan P. McAdams (Review of General Psychology, 2001).
- Childhood and Society, by Erik Erikson (1950).
- Bridges Transition Model.

EXTRA:
- "Personality: The Big Five," series by No Stupid Questions (2024).
- "What Does Success Look Like?" by No Stupid Questions (2024).
- "How Do You Deal With Big Life Changes?" by No Stupid Questions (2023).
- "What’s So Great About Retirement?" by No Stupid Questions (2022).
- "I Know Him," song by Jonathan Groff (Hamilton: An American Musical, 2015).