Читать книгу 20 Something Manifesto - Christine Hassler - Страница 42

I hit a big Expectation Hangover right out of college and am recovering slowly and steadily. Everything after college happens at a much slower pace than I ever expected. I got used to living life in the four-month sections of semesters — now everything feels so long term and overwhelming. I was disappointed when I realized how unexciting a corporate job was compared to going to college. It takes up more time in your day, making less time for personal hobbies and socializing. And it’s not always going to be exciting! It takes a lot of patience and learning before management is going to trust you to do the more exciting work.

Also, at work I expected people to recognize me and give me feedback, probably because I got so used to being graded and evaluated all throughout school (and at home for that matter). I took no recognition and feedback as meaning I wasn’t any good at what I was doing or there was something wrong with me, when really it’s just how things work in the post-college “real world.” Now I realize that I’ve always done good work that people appreciate. I was just looking for some kind of more explicit “grade.” I’ve stopped buying into my belief that work defines who I am as a person — which is emotionally freeing!

I’ve treated my Expectation Hangovers by changing my thoughts and surrendering to the process of my life. Also, sharing my experiences with my friends who are going through the same thing really helped me. I’m very proud that I didn’t get trapped into the negative thinking and bad attitude I had toward everything. I’ve been able to pull through with a new perspective on life and what it’s all about — learning and growing, constantly. It’s just part of coming down from that college-age high of feeling on top of the world and knowing everything there is to know. Graduating from college was a very humbling experience, and I’m proud of myself for the growth I’ve gone through (and will continue). I love feeling like I have my whole life ahead of me, and as much as I might like to plan what it will be like, I really have no idea what life has in store for me. But I feel like if I could handle the major Expectation Hangover I went through, I can handle almost anything in life and walk away from it feeling wiser and happier — and that’s worth celebrating!