"Many struggling adult children live in a space I call 'almost.' For example, 'Mom, can you get off my case? I'm almost ready to apply.' From the outside, this looks frustrating and avoidant. But psychologically, in the minds of adult children, it serves a powerful purpose."
"As long as these adult children remain living on 'Almost Lane,' they don't have to drive themselves into facing rejection, evaluation, or the real uncertainty about where they are in life. In their minds, 'almost' keeps their potential intact."
"Ironically, the more capable an adult child is, the harder it can be to break this pattern, because they were once used to doing well. They think, 'If I try and things don't go well, what does that say about me?'"
Many adult children struggle to launch due to a mindset of being 'almost ready,' which serves as a form of self-protection. This mindset allows them to avoid facing rejection and uncertainty. Parents often express confusion and concern about their children's lack of progress, but this behavior is rooted in fear of failure. The more capable the adult child, the harder it can be to break free from this pattern, as they fear the implications of failure on their self-worth.
Read at Psychology Today
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