Emerging Adults

Wednesday, 20 November 2019 12:12 Written by
  • What am I supposed to be doing with my life?
  • Is this the right career choice?
  • When will I find the relationship I’m looking for?
  • Am I making a difference in the world?
  • How can I pay all my bills on this salary?

If you are an adult in your 20s, asking yourself these soul-searching questions, you are in good company! A time full of promise, hope and possibilities, your 20s—and even into your early 30s—are also a uniquely stressful time in life, full of frustration.

While these decades are a wonderful phase of self discovery, offering up a time for exploring the complex issue of who you are in the world, they hold monumental transitions as well. These transitions can be exhilarating. But just think about the myriad choices and decisions that can leave you feeling anxious and confused, for example:

  • Moving out of your parents’ home
  • Beginning college
  • Moving back into your parents’ home
  • Starting a career
  • Finding a life partner
  • Starting a family

Uncertainty about your future and the feeling of living “in-between” can further contribute to you feeling overwhelmed and alone.

But if you are having these feelings, you are definitely not alone. Jeffrey Arnett, a psychology professor at Clark University, coined the term “emerging adulthood” to identify the 20s as a distinct stage of life. “The 20s are a black box, and there is a lot of churning in there,” says Arnett. “One-third of people in their 20s move to a new residence every year. Forty percent move back home with their parents at least once. They go through an average of seven jobs in their 20s, more job changes than in any other stretch.”

The good news is that this can be a time when the decisions you make lay the foundation for a rich and fulfilling life. You are free to explore who you are, with plenty of room to try new things in both your personal and professional life. It’s even a time when failure can positively shape the career or relationship you will come to embrace over time.

But how do you get through this challenging time? If you need support and guidance along this path, I can help. I can work with you to explore a single aspect of your life with a brief series of conversations, or we can delve deeper. Either way, we explore these complex issues in a safe, neutral and confidential environment so you don’t have to do it alone. Ultimately, we can overcome any obstacles to thriving in your adult life.

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