October 2025 – on the brink of change

"Bridges' three-zone model – endings, neutral zone, and new beginnings – was like a map for me in unfamiliar territory. What resonated most was that even positive changes carry uncertainty and a loss of identity – that’s exactly what I needed to hear. The exercise with writing my own obituary was powerful; it made me reflect not only on what I’ve accomplished but especially on why I do what I do."

Andrea Hurychová, founder of WeDigital, coach, and member of Red Button, shares about the book

At a time when most of us try to skip changes as quickly as possible and jump straight to the new beginning, William Bridges shows us in the book "Transitions" that it is the middle phase – the uncomfortable neutral zone – that is key to true transformation. This cult classic, first published in 1980 and recognized as one of the fifty most important personal development books of all time, reveals a universal pattern we go through with every life change.

Bridges, who was a professor of American literature before becoming a change management consultant, describes three phases of every transition: the ending, the neutral zone, and the new beginning. Contrary to popular belief, he shows that change is not a situational event but a psychological process. Using classical Greek mythology, especially the stories of Odysseus and Oedipus, he explains why even seemingly positive changes – like a new job or the birth of a child – carry fear and uncertainty.

The book helps us understand that the neutral zone is not lost time but a space for reorientation. It includes practical exercises, such as writing your own obituary – a tool for self-reflection on who we are and what we still want to achieve. Bridges also reminds us of the importance of transitional rituals from earlier times, which we often lack today. "Transitions" is not just a book about surviving change – it’s a guide on how to truly go through it and grow from it.

Who is Andrea Hurychová?

Andrea Hurychová is the founder of WeDigital, a coach, and a member of Red Button.