How Do You Cope With Big Life Changes?

Join our new community idea swap! First up: How do you cope with life changes (big or small)? Tory Johnson, Sally Krawcheck and Lisa Belkin lead the discussion—and we can’t wait to hear from you too. Share your comments below.

Q: Tell us briefly about a transition in your life. What strength or skill helped (or is helping) you get through it?

I never expected to be suddenly fired at age 22 from a corporate job I loved – leading me to transition from employee to entrepreneur. I could not have predicted that I’d become a wife and stepmom at age 23. And five years later, I was stunned when my doctor told me I was pregnant with twins. Looking back, what poet Carl Sandberg once said about life’s curveballs rings so true: “Nearly all the best things that came to me in life have been unexpected, unplanned by me.” Curiosity and a dose of fearlessness have enabled me to make it all work.

– Tory Johnson, New York Times best-selling author, “The Shift” and Good Morning America contributor @TORYJOHNSON

It seems that, for so many of us, life is a series of transitions. I’ve started jobs, changed jobs, been fired from jobs, changed industries, had a family, nursed my children through health scares. And I believe that the number of transitions we face will only increase, as we live longer and the pace of change increases. I have navigated through my transitions by calling on a profound sense of gratitude. I fully recognize that, only through the accident of birth (and some hard work), I have been blessed with an amazing life. And so I have loved every step of the way. In fact, I tell people that I loved my career so much, I even loved getting fired! (And it’s almost true.)

– Sallie Krawcheck, renowned voice for women on Wall Street and CEO of 85 Broads @SALLIEKRAWCHECK

Transitions are particularly hard when you are out of practice. I spent 30 years working for the same company —The New York Times — and then I left for the Huffington Post. My concerns then were about longevity — how long would this next job last? Was the business model of HP secure? Was my position of whim of the leader, a momentary blip in journalism? I stayed for 2 1/2 years and just left for Yahoo News, which is building a new original reporting team that sounds like a lot of fun. This time I asked no questions about longevity. Que sera and all that. The rest of my career, I realize, will be spent doing the work that seems most interesting at the moment. That is the reality of journalism in particular and life in general.

– Lisa Belkin, senior national correspondent, Yahoo News @LISABELKIN

What strength or skill helps you get through life changes? Let us know in the comments!