Managing Your Anxiety (HBR Emotional Intelligence Series)

9

Anxious About What’s Next? Here’s How to Cope

By Rasmus Hougaard and Jacqueline Carter

Transitions—graduations, first days at a new job, strategic planning for the next fiscal year—often bring a mix of anticipation and excitement. You don’t exactly know what lies ahead, but you’re eager to get there nonetheless.

These liminal periods—at the boundary of a new state or experience—are complex spaces to occupy. They can make us feel untethered and disoriented. But at the same time, they have great potential. The gift of transition is the opportunity for self-reflection, growth, and change. If we approach work and life transitions with the right mindset, they can be hugely rewarding.

So how do you gain greater clarity of mind when maneuvering new ...