You planned for the job search. You planned for the move.

You didn't plan on all the feelings.

The process of transitioning from military to civilian life can bring about a range of emotions that can be overwhelming for veterans, but acknowledging and understanding the emotional spectrum of this journey is critical to managing your emotional responses. And while anxiety, fear, excitement, anticipation, and uncertainty are common emotions experienced during this time, it's important to recognize that everyone's emotional experience is different, and it's okay to have valid emotions.

The transition can also bring about feelings of loss, such as the loss of identity, purpose, camaraderie, routine, and structure. These emotions should not be ignored, but instead, accepted and processed in order to move forward. Similarly, uncertainty and fear are common emotions that veterans may face, and creating a plan, setting goals, and prioritizing can help to manage these emotions.

In the same vein, excitement and expectation can also arise during this period, but if you don't manage those emotions you can also become overwhelmed. Maintaining realistic expectations and taking things one step at a time can help to keep these emotions in check, so that when discouragement and disappointment do occur, you can acknowledge these emotions and seek support from friends or counselors.

Ultimately, building emotional resilience is essential during this period. Taking care of yourself, setting goals, and maintaining a positive outlook can help you adapt and bounce back from adversity. Finally, don't forget to take advantage of the various human-centered programs and resources available to you, such as career counseling, job training, and mental health services.

We'll have more on building emotional resilience and how to deal with all kinds of different emotions, situations and challenges in upcoming issues, so subscribe now to get them weekly here on LinkedIn!

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