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Navigating Adulthood

Overcoming Fears and Building Confidence


Adulthood can be challenging with new experiences, decisions, and expressions; which can lead to stress, anxiety, and discomfort. This article will guide you to overcome your fears and flourish into adulthood with confidence, courage, and compassion so that you may enjoy the journey of becoming.


Life Skills for Navigating Adulthood

Main Takeaways:

  • You’re not supposed to know everything

  • It’s okay to be afraid

  • Believe the possibilities

  • It gets easier


You know what sucks…..going through life full of hesitation, fear, pain, and anxiety. This way of living could easily encourage anyone to “give up” but that doesn’t mean it’s the best path to take. The easiest routes are usually never the most beneficial. It’s the windy, full of surprise, and interesting turns that make you curious and force you to grow into the experienced driver you need to become. Although it takes time and requires effort, the road - that may include delays - leads you towards the confidence, courage, and compassion you need to strengthen your faith and experience a life of possibilities.


Much of adulthood requires you to adjust and adapt to new experiences without any previous experience to pull from. Let’s face it - you will be learning a lot of new skills that your parents or guardians spent much of their time managing and helping you navigate throughout your childhood….and the reality of you having to take care of yourself….in all the ways they used to, freaks you out!


I get it. I’ve been there - doubtful, stressed, and completely afraid of how my life would pan out when I’m the one making the decisions.


You are facing what other men have met, overcame, and conquered!


Your teachers, family, and those 5-10+ years older than you have been in your shoes and had to choose: take the easy route or buckle up for the ride?


High School Graduate Essentials for Adulting Success

High School graduation - one of the most monumental times in your journey - can feel daunting. Depending on your path, you’re either stressing over what college may look like, what the workforce will bring, how to raise a family, or how to survive while you figure out and discover what you want in life.


Youth are currently the most stressed group in the United States. Transitioning into adulthood after COVID-19 requires more adjustments than before, and it’s really affecting their ability to cope and overcome mental challenges. In 2020, it was reported that more than 6,000 15-24 year olds intentionally decided to take their own lives, with suicide trends increasing among minorities and people of color.


The mental attitude you hold towards adulting, has the power to shift and influence your mood more than you know. It’s time to acquire healthy habits towards navigating through the new, so that you may see the challenges as an opportune time to learn, grow, adjust, and develop the skills you need to thrive.


Mental and Emotional Tips for 2023 High School Graduates


Here are Seven Ways to Begin your Quest into Adulthood:


No. 1 - Embrace Your Strengths and Weaknesses:

You’re not supposed to know everything. It’s okay to be limited in your knowledge about certain things. However, it is not okay to welcome your lack of awareness into your experience as an excuse not to grow. To thrive, you must be real about what you do know and what you need to learn more about. When you take the time to identify your strengths and weaknesses, you welcome the opportunity to develop a plan on ways to improve your skill set.

  • Inner Growth Activity - Take a moment to journal and self reflect on what you know about adulthood. In what ways do you feel prepared? What areas do you feel you need help?


No. 2 - Surround Yourself with Positive and Supportive People:

Life is all about community. Learning from one another and leaning on others for support, is one of the best tips we can give you while navigating adulthood. No matter who you are and what you may know, none of us can do this alone. We all need help, a listening ear, an encouraging word, and a shift in perspective. As you begin your quest, start to identify the positive and supportive people in your life that you can lean on.


No. 3 - Set Achievable Goals:

I’ll be the first to tell you, DREAM BIG and DREAM OFTEN. It’s essential to your adulting journey; dreaming allows you to experience first hand the power of your thoughts and imagination. However, as you dream, it’s important to write out a plan or process on how you desire to achieve your goals. Whether the goal is big or small, ask yourself:

  1. Do I really want to achieve this?

  2. Why do I want to achieve this?

  3. What can I start doing to help me to achieve this?


No. 4 - Prioritize your Mental Health:

Life has its challenges and can feel unfair and/or stressful. It’s important to find and apply healthy and responsive ways to overcome these moments. One way to prioritize your mental health, as you transition into adulthood, is to not RSVP to every argument or experience you deem as disrespectful. This is one main quality you must master as an adult. It may be tempting to curse someone out or let them know how they made you feel but to navigate adulthood responsibly, you must learn to control how you respond to moments sent to destroy your peace. Click here to learn how to develop an effective routine that inspires calm, loving, and peaceful Inner G.


No. 5 - Fail Forward:

Failure is a part of the process. It helps you discover more of what you need to achieve your dream. Failure helps all the clutter that is hindering your path to clear up. Completing several attempts to acquire or sharpen life skills is a great thing! Although they may not always feel good, you are learning SOul much that will ultimately turn out for your good.


You will fail….and one day, you’ll be glad you did


No. 6 - Embrace your Ignorance:

Let’s imagine that you received $250 in cash from graduation gifts. You want to make the responsible decision to start building up savings and earning interest. Sidebar: This is soooo mature of you!! You run to the account to see how much money you’ve gained from placing it to the side. Each month you look and the amount remains the same, $250. After 6 months of no change, you begin to think something must be wrong so you pick up the phone, call the bank, and realize you’ve had your money sitting in a checking account that doesn’t accrue interest. What you don’t know can hurt you. Once you begin applying the life skills you’ve learned, it’s never a bad idea to ask questions, speak to a professional, or seek help from someone you know and trust. Embracing your ignorance improves your success rate by limiting the mistakes you make along the way.


No. 7 - Be Kind to Yourself:

One thing you must remember, God is with you. Therefore, everything you experience is helping you become who you need to be to thrive in adulthood successfully. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Believe in your dreams - when life presents challenging or hurtful experiences; slow down and take a deep breath. Remember, you’re not the first to have these experiences and just like those before you, you too will make it through.

Overcoming the Fears of Adulthood

Believe in the possibilities. Albeit unknown and sometimes scary, don’t approach adulthood with fear. Stand tall with courage knowing that If God be for you, who can be against you?! Everyone will experience hardships and difficulties in life. There are no exceptions but....




True warriors win in the end.

Not because of the gravity of the struggle

but because of the conviction in their heart.


The Missing Link to Your Adulting Success:
  • Accept the process and learn to enjoy it. It’s preparing you for greatness

  • Learn to fail forward. It may not always feel good but it will be for your good

  • Follow these steps in your journal: identify your fears and worries. Then, address why you’re afraid and worried. Finally, one-by-one, identify steps you can take to overcome that fear. Your goal is to conquer them as a champion so they’re no longer anchors holding you back.

You Got This

You Can Do This

You Are Ready For This

Legends are Built in Challenging Times.

Stay the Course

Enjoy the Ride!


Develop the Confidence Needed for Adulthood

Hold on to the Essentials to Improve your Mood and Focus. Remember:
  • You were created to succeed in every difficulty that is presented to you

  • Life is supporting you

  • Believe in the possibilities



 

Continue Your Journey to Wellness

Your growth and well-being are ongoing journeys, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. If you found this post helpful, consider buying me a coffee on Ko-fi to help keep the content flowing.


Don’t forget to check out our Mindfulness Journals, You Can Do This!,  and Soul Work Affirmation Cards, crafted to help you thrive in your everyday life. These resources are here to empower your journey.


Stay connected for more insights, tips, and resources by subscribing to our blog. 


Together, let’s keep exploring and nurturing the best version of you!


Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

 
Dr. Amirah B. Abdullah

Amirah B. Abdullah, DrPH

Dr. A is a Mindfulness Coach with a passion for helping individuals build the muscle that influences everything they do. For Your Inner G is committed to helping you improve your mental, spiritual, and emotional well-being to support and encourage adulting success!

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