How to Support a Loved One Through a Major Life Change

It’s never easy to go through a major life change alone.

Here is how it’s possible for you to offer them support during a major life change.

You willneed to be very self-awarein order to create a safe emotional space.

Watch what you say and the tone in which you say it.

By researching the answers to these kinds of questions, you are providing vital support.

You could think of hurdles they may encounter or circumstances they should prepare for that they may have missed.

Don’t shoot their idea down outright, if it’s possible for you to help it.

Sometimes a little push toward realism can help them understand the flaws in their plan.

Create a plan that starts where they are now and goes at least 2-3 months into the future.

Depending on the situation, you may not be able to go further than that.

Hold Them Accountable

Depending on the major life change, they could need an accountability partner.

Change is hard and they may need outside motivation to keep going.

A caveat: only hold them as accountable as they want to be.

Be ready to shift your expectations and support method to fit their new path.

Don’t take their decision personally.

A shift like this might make you feel frustrated about the effort you put into supporting their original goal.

A big life change will cause stress, fatigue, and emotional turmoil.

If your loved one lashes out at you, keep a level head.

have a go at get to the root of the problem and help them solve that.

Sometimes things don’t turn out.

Focus on what did work, even if the plan overall failed.

you’re free to point out new skills or knowledge they’ve gained.

you could also point out how they’ve improved their professional or social networks.

Mention how both of these can help them in the future, get them focused on moving forward.

You should also remind them why they wanted to make the change in the first place.

For example, if they wanted to go to graduate school but didn’t get in anywhere.

You could suggest they take individual courses to increase their knowledge and skills.

see to it you take time and energy to care for yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally.

By following this process, you’ll provide much needed support to those you care about.

Illustration by Tina Mailhot-Roberge.

Images fromlorenkerns,chicagozen,brownpau,francisco_osorio,Dai Fujihara,morgan_kern,jurvetson, andvandamesiarikova.