If you feel you're stuck or in a in-between season of life, here are practical and biblical ways of navigating transitions.

1. FINDING YOUR
PURPOSE AND
DIRECTION IN
TRANSITION
DISCOVERYOURCALLINGSERIESQARA
PRESENTED BY PAUL SOHN
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2. Topics to Cover
My Story of Navigating Transitions
The Quarter-Life Crisis
What is Transition?
Stages of Life Development
The Transition Process
Vocational Discernment Process
3 Potholes in Transitions
Transition Management Tips
TODAY'S
WORKSHOP
#NavigatingTransitions

3. PAUL SOHN
Founder & CEO, QARA
Director of Strategic Career
Initiative, Biola University
Adjunct Professor, Crowell School
of Business at Biola University
MY STORY OF
NAVIGATING
TRANSITIONS
Third Culture Kid, Quarter-Life Crisis, Changing
Careers and Industries, Dying to Myself, Getting
Married to Wife from a Different Culture,
Embracing God's Dreams

4. 7 JOB
CHANGES
AVERAGE NUMBER OF JOBS
PEOPLE WILL HAVE JUST IN
THEIR TWENTIES.
3 OUT OF 10
27% OF EMERGING ADULTS
HAVE CLEAR GOALS FOR THE
NEXT FIVE YEARS.

5. What do I really want out of
life?
Which way do I go?
Which option is best for
me?
What is my calling?
What is the purpose of my
life? Of life in general?
Do I have to decide it all
right now?
What is my vision for my
future?
What if I fail?
How do I know God will be
there to provide for me?
PERCENTAGE OF 25 TO 33 YEAR-
OLD WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED A
QUARTER-LIFE CRISIS
75%
NavigtatingTransitions

6. 5 CHARACTERISTICS OF
EMERGING ADULTHOOD
Identity
Exploration
Still in the process of
deciding who they are and
what they want out of life.
Feeling In-
Between
Emerging adults do not
completely feel like an
adult.
Instability
Frequent changes of
residence—moving to go
to college or to live with
friends or a romantic
partner.
Optimistic about
Possibilities
Believe that they will be living
"better than their
parents did." They expect to
find well-paying and personally
fulfilling work
Self-Focus
In a period of exploration
with respect to all aspects
of their life—education,
career, relationships. They
do not want to
prematurely limit
their freedom to explore.

7. "I thought things would be better."
"I thought I would be better."
"I thought friendships would stay together."
DISAPPOINTMENT
“I’m just not as happy as I used to be.”
“I feel fundamentally unable to see the bright side of life.”
“My ability to feel joy is just broken.”
“I’m going to be stuck here forever.”
“My parents are so disappointed.”
“All of my friends are doing so much better than I am.”
“I feel judged by God all the time.”
“I’m not sure that God exists. And if he does, I don’t care.”
“I haven’t felt God in a really long time.”
“Friends are fake.”
“I don’t have a place that feels like home.”
1
DESPONDENCY2
DESPAIR3
DOUBT4
DESOLATION5
5D'S OF A QUARTER-LIFE CRISIS

8. IN-BETWEEN PERIOD IN THE
LIFE DEVELOPMENT OF A
CHRIST-FOLLOWER
WHAT IS A
TRANSITION?

9. When you can't see what's
ahead clearly and
uncertain how to navigate
a time of change.
TRANSITION FOG

10. What is your transition fog
situation?
How do you think your
personality style or past
experience shapes the way you
transition?
What is the voice in your head
saying about this certainty or
fear?
What feelings are part of this
transition that is obscuring your
vision of what's next?
DISCUSSION
QUESTIONS

11. Food for Thought
JIM BRANCH, THE BLUE BOOK
So much of this life is lived in between, between the now
and the not yet, between arriving and departing, between
growing up and growing old, between questions and
answers. Lord, help us not to live for the distant day when
the in-between will be no more, but help us to have the
courage to step into that sacred space of the in-between -
knowing that this is a place where life is transformed.

12. SELF-DEFINITION
Clarity of who I am and who I'm not.
NEW PARADIGMS
Breakthrough in worldview with new opportunities
ROLE CLARITY
Clarity of contribution based on giftedness.
WHAT
TRANSITIONS
CAN DO
FOR YOU
#NavigatingTransitions
We crave certainty, but God
desires to give us clarity.

13. TRANSITIONS
ANSWER THE
"WHY"
QUESTION
WHY DO THINGS HAVE TO CHANGE?
WHY IS GOD ALLOWING ALL OF THIS TO
HAPPEN?
WHY IS HE SILENT WHEN I NEED
ANSWERS?
WHY HAS THE FUTURE DISAPPEARED?
WHERE IS ALL OF THIS HEADING?
QUESTIONS DURING TRANSITION:
It's one thing to know that your life has
purpose; it's another to know what that
purpose is.
Presentations are tools that can be used as

14. STAGES OF LIFE
EXAMPLES
- Robert Clinton's 6 Stages of Development
- Jon Acuff's Road to Awesome
- Three Strategic Transitions

15. Inner-Life
Growth
God is working
in the leader
rather than
through the
leader, and at
times the ministry
benefits as a
result.
God opens a
distinct role for
leaders that
showcases the
best of what they
have to offer
Ministry
Maturing
Life Maturing
Convergence
Afterglow
Times of isolation,
crisis and conflict
provide perspective
in their lives; that the
success of the
ministry itself is not
as important as
their relationship
with God
Leaders receive
recognition for a
life well lived. Enjoy
a wide range of
existing
relationships (e.g.
accrued a great
amount of
wisdom that
benefits younger
leaders)
Leaders seek to
know God more
intimately through
the use of spiritual
disciplines. Formal
involvement in
ministry often
occurs in this
phase.Sovereign
Foundations
God providentially
uses both the
good and bad
experiences in
leaders’ lives to
prepare them for
later use under
his lordship.
SIX STAGES OF LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

16. 1
2
3
4
5
If you don't share what you've learned with other travelers and head back to
the land of Learning with a fresh start, yesterday's success will start to define
your today and tomorrow. Start again.
Guiding
Ask a farmer if harvesting season is easy. Don't confuse this stage with retirement,
vacation or the end of the story. Don't fear or fight the harvest.
Harvesting
Mastering = a time to throw some elbows. We reach awesome by doing reps. Add hustle to your talent.
Mastering
Learning is about addition. Editing is about subtraction. Be brave enough to have fun with whatever
you whittle down in your life. Always play to the size of your heart, not to the size of your audience.
Editing
Fake your death. Build a small plane in your head and then crash it. Then ask yourself one question: "If I died
today, what would I regret not being able to do?" Try new things. Take new risks. Explore new passions.
Learning
THE ROAD TO AWESOME: 5 SEASONS OF LIFE

17. THREE STRATEGIC TRANSITIONS
2 40S 50S 60S 70S30S20S
AWAKENING DECIDING FINISHING
How should I live?
What's important?
In which direction should I head?
What course should I set?
Is it possible to follow my heart and
head out on a different path?
Do I really have what it takes?
What are the few things I'm supposed
to focus upon?
Isn't life supposed to mean something
more than just surviving?
Is there any time for me and the
passions of my heart?
How do I decide? What's my grid for
making the right choices?
Will my life have meant anything for
Christ?
Will my life have meant anything for
others?
Will my life have meant anything for
the world in which I live?
Will my life mean anything when I'm
gone?

18. We OVERESTIMATE what
we can do in a year but
we UNDERESTIMATE
what God can do in a
decade. THINK LONG!
M A R K B A T T E R S O N
FOOD FOR
THOUGHT

19. In your current stage of life, what are the
opportunities unique to this time of life?
What are the limitations of this stage? How
can you make both opportunities and
limitations work for you?
Where do you think you are in your faith
development? (Remember this is a very
subjective call and most of us oscillate.)
Why do you think you’re where you’re at?
Can you identify any experiences, insights,
points of growth, relationships, etc., that
have contributed to the development of
your faith over the years? (Or to put this
another way, what factors have caused you
to grow in your faith?)
DISCUSSION
QUESTIONS

20. Bridges Transition Model
Fisher Personal Transition Process
WHAT
HAPPENS IN A
TRANSITION?

21. ENDINGS
NEW
BEGINNINGS
NEUTRALENDINGS
productivityduringtransition
time
BRIDGES TRANSITION MODEL
Shocked, Angry
In Denial
Fearful
Sad
Confused
Disoriented
Frustrated
Skeptical
Apathetic
Excited
Energized
Committed

23. Growth equals change.
Change equals loss.
Loss equals pain.
Therefore, growth equals pain.
You will grow only to the
threshold of your pain.
- Samuel Chand

24. EXODUS - A TRANSITION PARADIGM
NEUTRAL ZONE
In the desert, where doubts arise about God’s
provision, questions surface, complaints are
voiced. (“We want to go back to Egypt!”)
The Promised Land is close. But there is deep
anxiety and apprehension about the challenges
that lie ahead, with reports from the spies
about giants in the land (“What kind of
promised land is this?”). Their cold feet lead
them back into the wilderness, wandering
aimlessly (so it seems) for forty years.
NEW BEGINNINGS
However, eventually the new beginnings can be
grasped again. There is fresh energy and vision.
Crossing the Jordan, taking the cities and the
land, settling down and establishing their life
as a free people under God – all this takes
time. But it happens. Israel enters a new season
together as the people of God. The transition is
finally complete.
ENDINGS
Harsh treatment by the Egyptians stirs up
discontent among the Israelites.
A longing for something more arises.
God provides a leader to channel the rising
voices into a movement demanding change.
There is the pull of the status quo, trying to
keep the people from change (Pharoah’s
determination: “I will not let you go”). Passover
night represents the reaching of a commitment
to change, and the crossing of the Red Sea
represents the point of no return.

25. SURFACE PASSION
AND EARLY
THOUGHTS ABOUT
POTENTIAL LIFE
CONTRIBUTION.
BUILD
COMMITMENT TO
LIVING OUT ONE'S
UNIQUE CALLING.
BEGIN SHAPING
INNER CHARACTER
AND INFLUENCE.
INITIATE
DISCOVERY OF
ONE'S SOVEREIGN
SHAPING.
HELP PEOPLE
IDENTIFY LIKE-
MINDED KINGDOM
PARTNERS.
LAUNCH A LIFETIME
QUEST TO FOLLOW
CHRIST.
GOD'S PURPOSE IN THE
AWAKENING TRANSITION?

26. Finding Your Sweet Spot
Practical Tools that Will Help You Live Out
Your God-Given Design and Purpose
VOCATIONAL
DISCERNMENT
#NavigatingTransition
PERSONALITY
GIFTEDNESS HOLY DISCONTENT
LIFE EXPERIENCES

27. VOCATIONAL
SWEET SPOT - LIFE
EXPERIENCES
Discovering Your Story within God's Story
PERSONALITY
GIFTEDNESS HOLY DISCONTENT
LIFE EXPERIENCES

28. YOUR PAST OFTEN
HOLDS THE KEY TO
UNLOCK YOUR FUTURE.
Each of us has a story. Each life plays a part in the
greater symphony that God is orchestrating. Every
story is filled with a series of life experiences—some
good, some difficult—that have shaped who we are
and the part we are to play.
CREATING YOUR LIFE MAP

29. VOCATIONAL
SWEET SPOT -
PERSONALITY
Understanding Your Unique Wiring &
Temperament
PERSONALITY
GIFTEDNESS HOLY DISCONTENT
LIFE EXPERIENCES

30. DISCOVER YOUR
UNIQUE WIRING
DiSC
16 Personality Factor Questionnaire
Hexcao Model of Personality Structure
Personality Inventory
Revised NEO Personality Inventory
MBTI
Eysenk Personality Inventory
Minnesota Multiphasic Personality
Inventory
The Birkman Method
Hogan Personality Inventory
Recommended Personality Tests:

31. VOCATIONAL
SWEET SPOT -
GIFTEDNESS
Unlocking Your Giftedness and Strengths
PERSONALITY
GIFTEDNESS HOLY DISCONTENT
LIFE EXPERIENCES

32. UNLOCK YOUR
GIFTEDNESS
Gallup StrengthsFinder 2.0 Test
The Strength Deployment Inventory
(SDI)
The VIA 24 Character Strengths
Survey
Highlands Ability Battery Test
Giftedness Assessment by Bill
Hendricks
Insights Discovery
Recommended Strengths/Giftedness
Tests:

33. VOCATIONAL
SWEET SPOT -
HOLY DISCONTENT
Unleashing Your God-given Desires
PERSONALITY
GIFTEDNESS HOLY DISCONTENT
LIFE EXPERIENCES

34. UNLEASH YOUR
GOD-GIVEN DESIRES
If money were not an issue, what
would you do with your time?
What makes your heart sing? What
breaks your heart?
What gives you energy? What drains
the life out of you?
What do you want to change,
upgrade, and leave better than you
found it?
What target market of the population
are you attracted to help?
Questions to Ask Yourself:

35. Some of the important lessons God has
revealed about his desires for my life
are...?
Some of the important things I have
learned about boundaries, the balancing
of work, family, church life, and my
personal life are…?
Some convictions I gained about what’s
important in life are…?
Some important insights I have gained
about people and relationships are…?
Some important lessons God has taught
me regarding character and
trustworthiness are…?
DISCUSSION
QUESTIONS

36. LISTENING
INTENTIONAL
LISTENING
CHRONICLING
JOURNALING YOUR
DESIRES, STORIES,
AND HOPES
LEANING
LEANING INTO
MENTORING AND
COACHING
STRATEGIC
DISCIPLINES IN
TRANSITIONS

37. BEWARE OF
POTHOLES
THE NEED TO COMPARE
THE TEMPTATION TO COPY
THE CHALLENGE OF
COMPETITION
POTENTIAL TRAPS

38. HELPFUL TIPS
FOR THOSE IN
A TRANSITION

39. ENSURE THAT
SOME FAMILIAR
THINGS REMAIN
IN YOUR LIFE
1. 2. BEWARE OF
THE TEMPTATION
TO MAKE THINGS
HAPPEN
3. UNDERSTAND
THE ORIGINS OF
YOUR DISCOMFORT
4. BE KIND TO
YOURSELF
DURING THE
TRANSITION AND
RECOGNIZE YOUR
VULNERABILITY
5. CONSIDER
BOTH THE PROS
AND CONS OF
CHANGE
6. TALK TO
SOMEONE YOU
TRUST

40. PAUL SOHN
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Beloved Child of God
Author, "Quarter-Life Calling: Pursuing Your God-
given Purpose in Your Twenties"
Founder & CEO, QARA
Director of Strategic Career Initiative, Biola
University
Adjunct Professor, Crowell School of Business,
Biola University
CONNECT
Personal: paulsohn.org
Business: qara.org
IG: pauljsohn
LI: pauljsohn

41. JEFFREY ARNETT, EMERGING ADULTHOOD: THE WINDING ROAD FROM THE LATE TEENS
THROUGH THE TWENTIES (OXFORD: OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, 2014)
J. ROBERT CLINTON, "GETTING PERSPECTIVE - USING YOUR UNIQUE TIMELINE."
BOBBYCLINTON.COM, 9-13
JON ACUFF, START.: PUNCH FEAR IN THE FACE, ESCAPE AVERAGE, AND DO WORK THAT
MATTERS (NEW JERSEY: RAMSEY PRESS, 2013)
TERRY WALLING, STUCK!: NAVIGATING LIFE AND LEADERSHIP TRANSITIONS (SOUTH
CAROLINA: CREATESPACE, 2015)
PAUL SOHN, QUARTER-LIFE CALLING: PURSUING YOUR GOD-GIVEN PURPOSE IN YOUR
TWENTIES (NASHVILLE: FAITHWORDS, 2017)
PAUL C. MAXWELL, WHEN YOUR TWENTIES ARE DARKER THAN YOU EXPECTED (SOUTH
CAROLINA: CREATESPACE, 2017)
WILLIAM BRIDGES & SUSAN BRIDGES, TRANSITIONS: MAKING SENSE OF LIFE (LEBANON: DA
CAPO PRESS, 2019)
JOHN M. FISHER, PROCESS OF PERSONAL TRANSITION MODEL, RETRIEVED FROM
HTTPS://WWW.BUSINESSBALLS.COM/CHANGE-MANAGEMENT/PERSONAL-CHANGE-STAGES-
JOHN-FISHER/
ALISTAIR MACKENZIE, WAYNE KIRKLAND, ANNETTE DUNHAM, SOUL PURPOSE: MAKING A
DIFFERENCE IN LIFE AND WORK (NEW ZEALAND: NAVPRESS, 2004)
REFERENCES