I recently moved, which got me thinking about stuckness versus stability. In ACT, we talk and think a lot about willingness. Willingness doesn’t come naturally to us humans. Avoidance, the opposite of willingness, is a much more conditioned response in our nervous system. Willingness is a skill we can use when we feel stuck to help us get moving again.
I know you’ve been holding your breath in anticipation and here it is…the third and final part of your Quarterlife Crisis Survival Guide. Today we’re moving on to the advanced skills of surviving and thriving in quarterlife: building your ability to zoom out and take perspective, understanding your attachment and nervous systems, strengthening your self-compassion muscle, and finally, putting it all into practice with committed action steps.
It's time for part two of your Quarterlife Crisis Survival Guide! What if instead of being based on arbitrary and often unrelatable life events, your early adulthood checklist is focused on laying the foundation for your mental and emotional wellbeing? Let's redefine your quarterlife landmarks and acknowledge the importance of learning to feel your feelings, separating emotion from behavior, building present-moment awareness skills, and understanding your busy human mind.
In my last post I talked about quarterlife and the quarterlife crisis, a relatable life event for most folks in their 20s and 30s. Characteristics of a quarterlife crisis include feeling lost, behind, adrift, lacking self-confidence, and distrust in yourself. Here's part one of a two-part guide to help you navigate, survive, and thrive during this tricky life stage.