You’ve done it! You’ve made that big decision, dealt with your feelings of impending fear and doom, and you’ve acted on it. So now what?!
In Martha Beck’s book Finding Your Own North Star, that period between your old and new self is where “square one” takes place. So if you’re experiencing even more fear now than before and questioning if you made the right decision, know that you’re on the right path. Square one is all about figuring out who you are now.
Now that for example, you’re _____ (Pregnant, married, divorced or unemployed? Fill in the blank with your change in identity here.), you might feel like you’re going through an identity crisis. This decision may have caused a change in who you thought you were or who you thought you would become.
The best way to deal?
- Look forward not behind. Remind yourself of why you made the decision in the first place and focus on that.
- Get protected. Protect yourself by surrounding yourself with others who have gone through similar circumstances or read about them in books or online. Find great friends and loved ones who you can rely on to vent during these uncertain times.
- Be kind to yourself. Know that what you’re feeling is normal and realize that you’ll eventually get through it. Most importantly, it’ll be a whole lot easier, the faster you’re able to accept yourself and your situation.
