Thanks so much Ashley! I appreciate the hand you're extending me. My happiness and contentment is essential for one and an end to getting caught up in how everyone else is doing. My thesis project really touched a lot of middle school students lives in a economically depressed city and I feel great about that. BUT I can't rest on my laurels. I just want everything I have done to translate into job quickly, fulfillment, and ability, not just a hyper-focus on what I could have done better and what I did wrong.
I don't normally disclose much about myself but I am 30 and working towards my first Masters degree now. I will graduate when I'm 31. I have a ton of insecurities and worries just like you but I also know this is temporary. Today there are a lot of older students, much older then us in fact, and I am sure they all experience similar anxieties. We can do this Ulrichd! How do you want to remember this time of your life? What do you think is important to focus on now?
Sorry a lot of the anxiety is the high expectations and my colleagues at school "greater adeptness" in learning and getting a handle what new tasks and assignments we receive at school. I had a lot of anxieties today over writing a cover letter for a potential job lead and thenmy mind kind of ran wild with negative thoughts. I try to leave it all to God my higher power, but I cant shake the feelings of doubt and uncertainty. I know I a lot of my trouble stems from dwelling on the past and self-comparison to others. I need to challenge these and disempower them. The cover letter should turn out totally fine, I am just going to give myself a nervous breakdown if I maintain the same attitude and my life will never change. It's potential interviews I am fretting about, etc and that I'm going to graduate this program at 29 years old have no job to transition right into. Not the end of the world, but perplexing to say the least.
I think many people can relate to you about nervousness and even hopelessness when starting a new career. Feeling insecure and unsure when you are starting something new is completely normal. It can seem so overwhelming. But the more you challenge any negative self talk and the more positive experiences you have little by little it will become easier and eventually you will gain confidence in what you do. When you are just starting out no one expects you to be perfect. In fact, you will likely mess up quite a bit as you are just starting out. This is ok and actually is to be expected - that's how humans learn, through experience and through messing up sometimes. It won't be easy and it does take a lot of courage and hard work but you will get through it and you will be better then ever because of it. How do you think you will feel when you get a job and feel like you are good at it? How would that change your life? Take some time to think on these questions and focus on them when you feel insecure or worried.
So my advice to you (as eleveno said) work the program and challenge your negative thoughts that are fuelling these feelings. You might want to check out the section on Worry as it will give you some good tips.
It is really nince you are about to finish your second master. Congratulations!
It seems you have been working hard on your studies. You could do a good thing for you and put some work on the CBT program of this site and wait at least one month to evalate its effectiveness. Maybe you could have a surprise!
Hi, I am about to finish my second master's in May (hence a time crunch). I've worked so very hard and borrowed a great deal of money that I hoped will land me the career of my dreams, which is in a very difficult field to break into. I have accomplished a lot, but yet I still do not feel I'm good enough when applying and feel overwhelmed by fears that this is hopeless. I can't project but how do I overcome this irrational but habitual thinking? What should I do to feel optimistic and capable with this pursuit of new employment which is in reality a fresh start for me? I really need to take it one day at a time for starters... Willing to listen to any advice.
