It's very normal to have multiple identities/modes/stages of life, but we only begin to appreciate this after we've been through a couple (aka with age). In th

It's very normal to have multiple identities/modes/stages of life, but we only begin to appreciate this after we've been through a couple (aka with age). In the beginning our first identity or two is all we've ever known, so its loss is extremely scary and feels catastrophic. I felt the same way after leaving my 1st job of 10 years out of college. It was like mourning a death. I was "an employee at X", I was good at it, I liked it. So it was so very worrying, frightful, and confusing when that season of life began to pass, and I was no longer happy with what up to that point had been everything I had been looking for. Some resources you may find interesting: [1] On average, friendships last about 7 years (indirectly suggesting that WE tend to change in identities every 7 years or so) - https://mwfseekingbff.com/2012/11/07/friendship-the-seven-year-itch/ https://mwfseekingbff.com/2012/11/07/friendship-the-seven-ye... [2] Transitions: Making Sense Of Life's Changes by William Bridges - A great book on the transitions of life, and how society today tries to rush through them, but they are deeply important and must be given the appropriate honor, time, and space. I read this when I was struggling with my own career transition, and it was exactly what I needed at that time in my life. Only by letting transitions run their courses fully can you set healthy foundations for the next stages of your life (and the next stage WILL be fruitful, even if life is full of murkiness and confusion right now).