"How do I get over the anxiety of quitting my job and chasing my dreams - what if it's all for nothing?!"
The first question to ask yourself: What’s the alternative?
Wait, But What? is our weekly advice column for paid supporters. If you’ve got a burning life question (whether it’s how to phoenix out of a dark spot, or how to stand up to a boss who thinks you're just in the room to grab a flat white) drop your question here and we might just answer it!
"Bel Bel Bel, HELP. I’m planning on moving to Europe to study a master’s degree, but I’m feeling overwhelmed with the possibilities of it all going wrong. How do I know if it’s the right path? How do I get over the fear/anxiety of quitting my job, taking out a loan and leaving my country behind with the possibility of it all being for nothing? I’m scared of not being a good enough student, not getting a job after, or any other nightmare scenarios.”
Dear departure lounge,
The short answer to this is you can never know.
The long one is much more interesting, slash a string of existential reassurances I’m going to give to you one by one, as though we’re at a chic wine bar somewhere constantly saying, ‘one more, one more’ and writing this all down in the notes app on our phones.