| One of the most shocking things about moving to a | | | | a newspaper or drink a cup of coffee, for example. |
| new place is how different it looks and feels. When | | | | Look for a newspaper store or stand, or a |
| you're home, you have a favorite restaurant, you | | | | café that's either near your residence, or your |
| know the bus or train route, and you've figured out the | | | | office, and go there every day for at least one month. |
| closest supermarket and Laundromat. As you walk or | | | | The result will be that the store or café owner |
| drive down the streets, your sense of navigation is so | | | | will start to recognize you. I know this may seem silly, |
| innate that you may take the same route every day | | | | but having someone notice you actually goes a long |
| without thinking. If you ended up someplace | | | | way when you feel lost in a new place. This person |
| unexpected, you'd chuckle or briefly berate yourself | | | | becomes a friendly face you can count on, and |
| and then quickly orient yourself towards home. And, if | | | | hopefully, you can even enter into conversation with |
| you came upon someone else looking for directions, | | | | them. Find out about their day, or ask them for the |
| you'd have no trouble helping them. | | | | best place to grocery shop or do laundry! |
| These are the things that get lost in a move. There's | | | | 2 - Create a Sacred Space Explore the city a bit, pick |
| the frustration of not knowing where the best or most | | | | something of significance to you. It could be a park, a |
| inexpensive place is to wash dirty laundry, get your | | | | church or synagogue, a museum, a restaurant, etc. - |
| shoes repaired, or buy paper towels. And though you | | | | something that you will enjoy returning to again and |
| may have some restaurants nearby, you've never | | | | again. This can be a place that you stumble upon, and |
| been there, so how can you know which ones are | | | | for no apparent reason, you just feel a sense of |
| great, and which to avoid? Right away, you may feel | | | | comfort, or, it could be that you repeatedly return there, |
| literally lost - one wrong turn, and not only are you not | | | | and thus it becomes familiar. Either way, creating this |
| sure where you are, but you're not sure where you're | | | | sacred space for yourself is a wonderful solace to |
| going. And, worse yet, to find your way, you either | | | | have while adjusting to a new place. |
| have to ask for help, or pull out a map and then | | | | 3 - Learn About Danger Zones Another key strategy |
| everyone knows you're lost. | | | | is to quickly learn where any areas considered |
| I had a recent experience with getting lost on a trip to | | | | dangerous are. These are perhaps areas known to be |
| Paris. Though I know Paris as well as my hometown | | | | unpopulated, or where crimes are known to take |
| of New York, I was shocked to find myself totally lost. | | | | place. The fact that you know these areas will give |
| I got out of the metro in an area I had never explored | | | | you a sense of confidence because, even when lost, if |
| previously, tried to orient myself to the direction of the | | | | you can remind yourself that you're not in one of these |
| Seine river, chose the wrong street, and ended up | | | | dangerous areas, it will quickly help calm your mind. |
| completely disoriented and surrounded by streets that | | | | 4 - Get Lost on Purpose! Once you're grounded in |
| were not parallel to one another, a common | | | | having a sense of what areas are safe, try to get lost |
| experience in Europe. I thought, "How can I be lost in a | | | | on purpose. Do it during the day, in a well-populated |
| city I know this well?" Then I panicked since my sense | | | | area where you can ask for directions, and feel safe. |
| of direction was clearly off, and I had failed to write | | | | Bring a cell phone so you can easily call someone if |
| down the address of the place I was going. I quickly | | | | the need arises. Here's what happens - you end up |
| gathered my composure, realizing first, I was in a safe | | | | discovering a new store, or restaurant, or park, or |
| place with lots of people, and second, that I could ask | | | | some other gem you would never have found were |
| a policeman for help. | | | | you looking for it. The possible panic that can initially |
| Once calmer, I realized my iPhone had a GPS indicator | | | | appear is replaced by pride when you turn the corner |
| (an excellent resource if lost!) on which I HAD marked | | | | and say, "Now I know where I am and how to get |
| the address of my destination. I pulled it out, and the | | | | home from here!" There's something very powerful |
| map showed me where I was in relation to my | | | | about confronting the fear of being lost and |
| destination, and guided me there! Along the way, I | | | | overcoming it that helps you feel at home. |
| discovered a whole new area of Paris I hadn't known | | | | 5 - Celebrate! Do something to reward yourself every |
| previously, and should I find myself there again, I will | | | | time you feel "found". Maybe try out a new restaurant, |
| look forward to dining at some of the many lovely | | | | see a movie, buy some chocolate, whatever way you |
| restaurants I passed by. All these reasons are why it's | | | | celebrate, do something to pat yourself on the back |
| important to create a sense of the familiar for yourself | | | | for this amazing step forward you've taken towards |
| once you move. Doing this enables you to have some | | | | successfully transitioning to a new place! |
| comfort zones which make you feel relaxed, and can | | | | 6 - Download and listen to my free eCourse, 8 Steps |
| also be landmarks which orient you if you become lost. | | | | to Feel at Home Anywhere in the world, where you'll |
| Here are a few strategies on how to create this | | | | find additional tips on getting familiar with a new place, |
| familiarity for yourself. | | | | some helpful worksheets, and resources, as well as |
| 1 - Get Recognized In order to start this process, pick | | | | the other essential steps you need to take to ensure a |
| something you do almost every day; perhaps you buy | | | | smooth transition to a new culture. |