When you’re in the midst of a professional transition, it can feel like you're wandering through a fog without a map. Whether you’re switching fields, returning after time away from the workforce, or stepping into something entirely new, you might doubt yourself or feel alone.

You might wonder if you’re the only one questioning your path, your worth, or your ability to make it to the other side.

In a culture that praises self-reliance, we often feel like we need to have all the answers. Researchers consistently find that we benefit when we can ask for help and navigate transitions with the company of others.

Transitions challenge more than just our routines. They shake up our sense of self. William Bridges’ model of transition (1991) distinguishes between external change and internal transition, highlighting the “neutral zone” as a psychologically vulnerable period where the old identity has been shed but the new one has not yet fully emerged.

This space can trigger self-doubt, uncertainty, as well as symptoms of anxiety or depression (Goodman, Schlossberg, & Anderson, 2006). For people emerging from a period of unemployment, layoffs, or caregiving, the shift can be especially jarring. Research shows that identity discontinuity (when your current role doesn’t align with your sense of self) can negatively impact self-esteem and motivation (Ibarra & Barbulescu,........

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