THE CLIMB

Landing your first professional job is an exciting time for young adults. It often involves navigating new responsibilities, forging professional relationships, and developing a sense of identity and purpose. These challenges are even more pronounced for those whose adolescent years were impacted by COVID isolation. The pandemic disrupted critical developmental milestones, leaving many young adults struggling to process their core feelings and develop the skills needed for healthy adulthood. Let’s explore how core feelings show up in this context, the impact of COVID isolation, and the path to emotional growth.

Core Feelings in Young Adults Entering the Workforce

Core feelings—sadness, fear, anger, disgust, shame, and joy—are universal experiences that shape our emotional and mental health. For young adults transitioning into the workforce, these emotions often arise in unique and significant ways:

1. Sadness: Many young adults experience sadness during this life stage due to feelings of loss or change.
   • Example: Graduating college and leaving behind close friendships or the structured environment of academia.
   • COVID Impact: The pandemic stripped many of traditional rites of passage, such as graduations or internships, leaving unresolved grief over what was lost.
   • Growth Opportunity: Processing sadness allows young adults to acknowledge change and build new connections in their professional lives.
2. Fear: Fear is a common emotion for young professionals facing uncertainties in their careers.
   • Example: Worrying about meeting job expectations, navigating office politics, or achieving financial independence.
   • COVID Impact: Prolonged isolation and limited networking opportunities heightened fears of being underprepared for the workforce.
   • Growth Opportunity: Facing fears helps build confidence and resilience, turning uncertainty into motivation.
3. Anger: Anger often surfaces as frustration with unmet expectations, workplace challenges, or systemic inequities.
   • Example: Feeling undervalued in entry-level roles or frustrated with job rejections.
   • COVID Impact: Many young adults feel anger toward systems that seemed to fail them, such as limited job prospects and remote work conditions during formative years.
   • Growth Opportunity: Constructive expression of anger can drive young professionals to advocate for themselves and seek meaningful change.
4. Disgust: Disgust emerges when young adults encounter unethical behaviors or toxic environments.
   • Example: Witnessing dishonesty or gossip in the workplace for the first time.
   • COVID Impact: Remote work shielded many from in-person workplace dynamics, making it harder to learn how to navigate such situations.
   • Growth Opportunity: Disgust can guide young adults to uphold their values and set boundaries in the workplace.
5. Shame: Shame can be particularly potent for young adults still solidifying their sense of self.
   • Example: Feeling embarrassed after a workplace mistake or comparing oneself unfavorably to peers on social media.
   • COVID Impact: Isolation amplified self-comparison, as young adults relied heavily on social media to gauge their progress.
   • Growth Opportunity: Developing self-compassion helps reframe shame as a normal part of growth rather than a reflection of worth.
6. Joy: Despite challenges, moments of joy emerge through accomplishments and connections.
   • Example: Landing a first job, receiving positive feedback, or building friendships with coworkers.
   • COVID Impact: Joy from these milestones was often muted during the pandemic due to limited opportunities for celebration or acknowledgment. Politically and socially, joy was an emotion that was not culturally okay to express for a long time.
   • Growth Opportunity: Actively seeking joy and celebrating small wins fosters optimism and fulfillment.

Effects of COVID Isolation on Emotional Development

COVID isolation profoundly impacted young adults during critical developmental years, leading to:

• Stunted Emotional Growth: Limited social interactions delayed opportunities to develop emotional regulation, resilience, and interpersonal skills.
• Increased Anxiety and Depression: Isolation heightened feelings of fear, sadness, and hopelessness, contributing to a mental health crisis in this age group.
• Difficulty with Transitions: Without traditional rites of passage, many young adults struggled to emotionally transition from students to professionals.

The Need to Develop Healthy Adults

To grow into emotionally healthy adults, young people must learn to process and navigate their core feelings. Here are key steps to support this development:

1. Acknowledge and Normalize Core Feelings
   • Recognize that sadness, fear, anger, disgust, shame, and joy are universal experiences.
   • Normalize the discomfort that comes with growth and change.
2. Seek Connection
   • Build supportive relationships with colleagues, mentors, and peers.
   • Reclaim connection lost during isolation by prioritizing in-person interactions.
3. Develop Emotional Regulation Skills
   • Use tools like mindfulness, journaling, and therapy to understand and manage intense emotions.
   • Practice self-compassion to reduce the impact of shame and self-doubt.
4. Reframe Setbacks
   • View mistakes and challenges as opportunities for growth rather than as failures.
   • Develop a growth mindset to navigate workplace learning curves and transitions.

1. Pursue Joy Intentionally
   • Celebrate achievements, no matter how small.
   • Engage in activities outside of work that bring happiness and fulfillment.

A Story of Resilience: Leah’s Journey

Leah (name changed for privacy) was a 25-year-old struggling to transition into her first job after graduating. She felt constant sadness about the friendships she’d lost, fear about her future, and shame for not being further along in her career like her peers.

Through therapy, Leah began to unpack these core feelings:

• She acknowledged her sadness over missed milestones and allowed herself to grieve.
• She explored her fear about job performance and reframed it as a natural response to entering a new chapter of life.
• She practiced self-compassion to address shame, recognizing that everyone’s journey is unique.

Leah also began using tools like mindfulness and cognitive-behavioral techniques to regulate her emotions. With time, she felt more confident and started finding joy in small victories, such as receiving positive feedback from her manager and building friendships with coworkers.

Conclusion

The transition from student to professional is a critical time for young adults, filled with emotional challenges and opportunities for growth. By learning to process and work with their core feelings, they can build resilience, foster meaningful connections, and grow into emotionally healthy adults. At The Pursuit Counseling, we are committed to guiding young adults on this journey, helping them navigate life’s transitions with confidence and grace.

At The Pursuit, we believe in empowering you to live your best life. Located near Town at Trilith and Trilith Studios, our team of skilled therapists is dedicated to providing exceptional, personalized counseling services. Whether you’re seeking support for life transitions, anxiety, trauma, or personal growth, we prioritize evidence-based strategies, compassion, and tailored treatment plans to meet your unique needs.
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