Drowning in choices and responsibilities…
Should I go to college, or should I take a year off?
Moving out on my own seems really scary… that is a lot of responsibility.
What do I even want to do with my life?
I have to figure out how to pay these bills… where do I start?
You have a million questions running through your mind, which all seem overwhelming. The choices you have are endless.
Everyone around you asks questions and makes assumptions about your next steps in life. The pressure adds to the chaos and makes you feel even more confused. Sometimes, you wish you could sink into the ground and disappear.
Congratulations! You are a recent college graduate, and it’s time to start figuring out your next step in life. Transitioning to the next level of being an adult as you move further away from the supports that have been with you thus far is challenging.
Finances present as something you need to pay more attention to as you move into your first “real” apartment. Maybe you need to purchase a more reliable car or start looking for a job in your field. You are unsure if you are coming or going with all the new responsibilities you have taken on.
Sometimes, you feel stuck and don’t know how to turn.
The expectations weigh heavy on your shoulders.
You have no idea what you want to do for the rest of your life, but everyone expects you to have it figured out.
Both your parents attended college and expect you to follow in their footsteps. You played sports all through high school… why wouldn’t you want to continue playing?
You’re expected to enter a particular field because that is what your family has “always done.” To succeed in life, you must do x, y, and z. All your friends are doing “it,” so why wouldn’t you?
Maybe, you have some ideas of how you want to move through life and stay authentic. However, all the pressure from outside sources has you rethinking your intuition. Sometimes, you struggle to communicate what you want despite others’ expectations.
Your mind is flooded with a lot of information, and your thoughts are racing when you lie down at night. Isolating from others is one way you find some relief, but this makes you feel more alone in the world.
And then there’s the fear of the unknown…
You are unsure about a lot as you move forward.
You are worried that you will make choices that may not serve you and have to start all over again.
Maybe, you feel like you will be stuck and have to follow through with things no matter what arises. Questioning yourself all the time and feeling insecure about your choices is tiring.
Who are you? said the Caterpillar… I-I-I hardly know, Sir, just at present,
Alice replied rather shyly. At least I know who I was when I got up this morning,
but I think I must have changed several times since then.
– Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Others seem to have it all figured out.
You scroll through social media and see the many successes that your friends are having right now.
They graduated with their master’s degrees and just got their dream job. Or they post about their new apartment in the perfect neighborhood. They are excited that they just got into the college of their choice.
Your family may also contribute to this picture-perfect lifestyle by telling you about the successes of their co-workers’ children. Maybe they even place you in a position where you feel you compete with other family members. You know your first cousin just got into medical school… you better step up your game!
Meanwhile, you’re not even sure if you want to attend school, let alone what you want to do for the rest of your life. Seeing everyone else’s success makes you feel alone in the struggle. Why does everyone else seem to be on the right track?
What’s wrong with me?
No one has it all figured out (even if it seems like they do).
Social media and the stories people tell us allow space to paint a picture of the good life and that everything is going their way.
They make it seem super easy. Underneath all the fluff, there is another story of the person’s struggle with feelings much like yours. They don’t typically tell you that part… they skip to the good stuff.
Let me throw you a personal flotation device.
Working together, we can break things down into manageable tasks so they don’t seem like a mountain that’s impossible to climb. There are ways to look at things so they don’t seem so scary.
You’ll learn lifestyle practices that keep you grounded through challenges. We may explore different meditation forms to help focus and settle the mind. Maybe, we introduce some movement into your day to help transform your stress. You’ll find out what practices serve you best, and you’ll have the awareness to know when you’re getting off track. In time, you’ll be navigating challenges with ease and grace!
You’ll also learn how to put yourself first and find balance in your day-to-day life. Learning that self-care is a priority and that you are not selfish will help create some work/life balance. We will work to reframe some of your beliefs around being “busy” all the time. This will help dampen the effects of negative talk that may arise when you allow space for recharging.
We’ll also work on communication – specifically, how to relay your emotions and desires to others.
Finding effective ways to communicate with others is typically a growth point for many of us. Learning how to be a good listener and finding ways to speak in a way you can be heard and understood are skills that will serve you over your lifetime. Work in this area will help you communicate more clearly while allowing space for you to be a better partner/friend to others.
You may struggle at times…
Feeling alone on this journey can be scary, and you may not be confident to follow your true path. A lot of background noise gets in the way of this path.
I see your struggle and work to break things down, so they don’t seem overwhelming. I will provide some guidance around the idea that we aren’t “perfect” at everything we try and that sometimes we need a little practice with something before we feel more confident.
I am your cheerleader around following your true path and helping you explore ways this may be possible. We also build other skills that will provide a good foundation for things you may face as you continue your journey. The struggle is “real!”
But there’s growth at the end of that struggle.
Like water, you’ll learn to “go with the flow.” You might sometimes face turbulence or get stuck along the bank, but you’ll eventually break free and continue your journey downstream!
It’s time to pursue YOUR authentic journey.
Transitioning into adulthood can seem overwhelming and a bit scary.
I can help guide you through this transition while building skills that can serve you throughout your life so that you can navigate future transitions with more grace and acceptance.
The time to reach out to me is NOW.