Life Transitions

Life is full of transitions. We move from one transition to another. Navigating them isn’t always easy. 

As we are growing up, it seems like everyone is on the same path. We all go through elementary, middle and high school. Every day we are guided along a narrow path of academics, extracurriculars, and maybe a part-time job. Then the world opens up. That can be exciting, but it can also be incredibly overwhelming.

With the advent and massive popularity of social media, we are fed the narrative that everyone is making the transition into adulthood seamlessly. Struggles are infrequently shared. They are not liked and commented on. Difficulties are not frequently validated or explored. 

Some choose to further their education. Some go into the workforce. Some join the military. A lucky few seem to be galavanting the world. None of these people are evolving from children to adults without growing pains. Even those whose grid appears perfectly effervescent are facing obstacles. 

Regardless of what your struggle looks like, it is valid and deserves to be heard. 

Part of therapy for those going through life transitions is normalizing the struggle of growth. It can help to feel that you are not alone in your confusion. Another key part of the therapeutic process is acknowledging your feelings, hearing that they matter, they have value, and that they are okay to have. Therapy can make the road ahead seem a bit more manageable as we develop greater confidence in our own abilities. Decisions can be made. 

Once a path towards adulthood is chosen the road ahead can seem predetermined. This alone can feel scary. Committing to one path is daunting. In this phase of life, people begin to pick life partners, build families, and buy homes. Whether you are on that journey or not, you will likely face moments of thinking the grass is greener on the other side. 

Comparison is an evolutionary tool. It is ingrained in us to want to be better, have more so that we can survive and expand our genetic pool. The problem with that is resources aren’t as scarce as they used to be when we were hunter gatherers roaming the earth. We no longer need to maintain the mentality that someone else’s success means your failure. 

Reviewing our perspective can be difficult to do independently. Having a therapist, a friend, or a family member to reflect back to you what you are saying helps you see yourself through a different lens. This can help when navigating change or making an important decision. 

Transitions do not end during adulthood. They come as we leave jobs, change careers, have children, leave partners, move cities. 

If you can change your approach to transition, how might it change your life? Would you be more willing to take chances? Would you have a greater sense of self? 

Life is never stagnant. We hope you can find the balance between enjoying life in the present and feeling strong enough to make the changes that make it even better in the future.