Attention Class of 2018 – Somehow You Should Know
It’s June, and the signs for graduations are everywhere. The card shop shelves are stocked, pictures of proud parents and students in caps and gowns are all over social media, and restaurants are booked with celebration lunches and dinners.
College graduates are heading out into the world to begin to make their way – changing lives, creating fame and fortune. High school students are moving on to college or out into the world as well. And parents and families are preparing for the necessary adjustments.
Changes abound.
So how do we navigate the challenge of change? How do we RESET during times of transition when we move from the place we have known so well to the unknown that is before us?
Let’s start with:
Recognize – Recognize that something is different, or about to be different. Become aware of what you are feeling and check in with yourself by asking these questions:
- What am I feeling?
- What am I thinking?
Something is different – become aware of how you feel and think about it.
Are you excited? Do you dread the thought? Most likely it’s a bit of both. You may be excited for the celebration, for the accomplishment, for the next step. And at the same time, you may be fearful, or at least a bit concerned about what’s around the corner. Both are normal.
The underlying question you may be asking is, “what don’t I know, about what I don’t know?”
Now stop, breathe – here’s the deal, you can’t know what you don’t know. That is the response you give to the voice in our head that is saying that “somehow you should know.”
Why should you know what is going to happen next? How can you possibly know the exact right words to say to your son or daughter, your mom or dad? You have never lived the very next moment before, let alone the rest of your life.
Yes, you have experience, but how can you possibly know the best advice, the exact right words to give this child or young adult? Have you ever been here in this moment of graduation with them before? And graduates, how can you know what to do next, have you ever rented an apartment before or attended this college or met this roommate? Even if you have been on job interviews, when have you been on this next interview before now?
Each day is filled with 1440 brand new minutes that you have never lived before – each one holds the possibility of a new experience. Even the routine becomes new in the next moment. Embrace it with curiosity as you explore what is next for you.
Want a little more support – check out our 52 RESET Mindsets. It’s a weekly email that comes with a short – really short – support explanation and a community forum to share your thoughts, questions or ideas. Click here to learn more
And please leave your comments or questions in the space below. I would love to hear about your graduation experience and how you RESET Your Buttons when you hear the “somehow you should know” voice. I will personally respond to at least the first five.