Transitions vs Transformations

Frederic M. Hudson's The Adult Years was a highly influential book on me in my PhD program and directly inspired my decision to become a Hudson certified coach. In the book, Frederic distinguishes between life transitions and life transformations. A transition is a period of moving from one stable life chapter to the next. It's a change of role, job, or circumstance, but the core identity of the person remains intact. Think of it as moving from one room to another within the same house. A transformation, however, is a fundamental and often irreversible shift in one's core identity, purpose, and worldview. It's not just a new job; it's a new sense of self. Hudson's work emphasizes that these transformations are not linear but part of a cyclical process of renewal.

The Problem with "Surface Acting"

In my client work I was recently reminded of surface acting - a concept from I-O Psychology - tied to emotional labor. It describes the act of faking emotions to meet organizational display rules, such as smiling in a meeting when you’re internally frustrated and crushed. This is a common transition for many of us—in corporate, we learn a new set of behaviors and display rules to fit expectations. However, what we know is that surface acting is linked to negative outcomes like emotional exhaustion and burnout. Why? Because it takes a lot of energy to maintain the disconnect between your authentic self and your outward expression. It's a superficial adjustment that doesn't address the underlying dissonance. It's a transition, not a transformation.

The Connection: From Surface Acting to Deep Transformation

The connection between these two concepts is profound. When an individual engages in prolonged surface acting, they are performing a transition that may ultimately necessitate a more significant transformation. The internal conflict, or "emotional dissonance," created by faking emotions can lead to a periods of disengagement and exhaustion impacting not only your wellbeing, but also outcomes of your work. This is a crucial phase where the person can no longer sustain the superficial persona and is forced to confront their misalignment.

The work that we do in my sessions is moving beyond simply faking emotions (surface acting) or following a formula for “influencing”, to aligning your entire self. This typically happens in two ways:

1. Realigning with the Role: The client finds a way to genuinely connect with the purpose of their work, making the emotional display authentic. This is the transformation into deep acting vs. surface acting a concept where one internalizes the desired emotions, making the expression genuine rather than faked.

2. Changing the Role: The individual realizes the current role fundamentally conflicts with their values and identity. This realization triggers a major life transformation, leading them to seek a new job, career or path that is more authentic to their renewed sense of self.

   
   

Surface acting is the exhausting catalyst for change. It's the point of friction that forces a person to stop performing a transition and begin the inner work required for a true transformation. In this way, the seemingly mundane, everyday practice can lead to profound and energizing personal and professional renewal. It’s the breaking point that forces us to move beyond simply adapting and to start truly evolving.

Dr. Lena