William Bridges talks about transitions. I was given his book by a mentor 25 years ago. At the time, I was fumbling my way out of university and into a career, constantly complianing at how long it was taking to pan out.

The book was ‘The Way of Transition’. I have kept it close ever since. It contains clarity at times of stress, confusion or change.

When I first read the book, I remember telling friends I felt like I was in a washing machine – soak, suds and then spin. And the spin cycle was going on for a long, long time.

Sleep wasn’t good. My head was playing tricks on me. The basics of life were out of sync.

I learned that this is the neutral zone. The ‘waste land’ Bridges talks of where there is no life, no growth. Just vast, empty space.

It’s the place we go through when life happens and change is forced upon us.

It’s a harsh landscape. There are no signposts or pathways. A bit of gravel here and there if you’re lucky.

Not much is clear in any direction, and nothing you can do will change this.

All you can do is wait. Things will eventually offer themselves up. Like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, you’ll find your way back to Kansas, but it’s not the same Kansas you left.