Anxiety During Life Transitions

Starting university,

Looking for a job,

Changing careers,

Beginning or ending a relationship,

Studying abroad,

Moving to a new country,

Or simply entering a new stage of life,

Such as growing from adolescence into adulthood,

Can all bring uncertainty, discomfort, and anxiety.

But perhaps it is not about our abilities at all.

A life transition is like a button.

Pressing it means saying goodbye to some of the patterns that have become part of who we are.

Imagine no longer having the breakfast you grew up with.

That the person who was always there is no longer around.

That no one knows the nickname people used to call you.

We continue moving through schools, halls, meetings, and communities,

speaking with new people who do not know us yet,

introducing ourselves,

finding a new place to belong,

and perhaps even a new sense of identity.

Gradually and naturally,

or sometimes all at once,

we come to realize that we are no longer exactly who we used to be.

At such times, our emotions can be mixed.

Some may feel anxious.

Some may feel hopeful.

And some may feel both at the same time.

Anxiety does not necessarily mean that something is wrong with us.

Often, it is simply reminding us that life is changing.

And when we do not rush to resist or control these feelings,

When we are willing to pause and listen,

Perhaps a new balance may slowly begin to grow.

🌿🌿