Black Holes and Leaving Well: The Anxious Event Horizon
Black holes are often compared to feelings of anxiety–the closer you are to its center, the more it draws you in, and nothing can escape from it. We can’t even observe anything that enters the black hole. It absorbs everything, even light.
Nothing can travel faster than the speed of light, so once something is pulled into the gravity of a black hole, it’s never going to get out again. The boundary–the line that once crossed cannot be escaped–is called the event horizon.
Put in simple terms:
“Nothing that enters a black hole can be observed from outside the event horizon. ”
You may be asking yourself, Naomi, is Leaving Well turning into an astronomy blog? Absolutely not. Let’s bring it back to the realities of workplace transitions.
A connected concept known as the “Anxious Event Horizon” provides important and necessary understanding when dealing with uncertainty that lies ahead. At its core, the anxious event horizon represents the juncture at which the unknown meets human apprehension. As we approach this boundary, this line to be crossed into the uncertain future, we may experience a surge of anxiety, triggered by impending change, ambiguity, or potential risk. This surge can manifest as stress, fear, or overwhelm.
The term "horizon" emphasizes the boundary between what is known and what lies beyond, a space where anticipation and unease often intersect.
In a professional context, the anxious event horizon can arise during significant transitions, mergers, leadership changes, or shifts in organizational strategy. Individuals grappling with changes in job roles, organizational restructuring, or shifts in industry trends may also encounter this horizon. This phenomenon is not limited to the workplace; it extends to personal life changes such as relocating, pursuing higher education, or embarking on new relationships.
Navigating the anxious event horizon requires a multifaceted approach that blends psychological awareness and practical strategies.
The Basics: Recognizing and Acknowledging Signs of Anxiety
The first step toward managing the anxious event horizon is to recognize your own signs that you’re approaching it. It’s akin to a mental check engine light. Some little signal that says something ain’t right in here. What do you notice in your behavioral patterns as you approach a big move into the unknown?
Maybe you chew your fingernails or skip lunch. Perhaps you stay up late and self-sabotage with a vicious cycle of over-caffeinating and crashing. Maybe you’re irritable and you start taking out your worries on everyone around you.
The important (but difficult) part of this recognition is being able to acknowledge these signs and their associated thoughts, beliefs, and emotions in yourself without harsh judgment. Let them be neutral, and then you can begin to triage their effects.
If you’ve ever learned mindfulness or grounding techniques, they’ll come in handy here. If you aren’t already familiar with them, there are myriad books, videos, and even social media accounts that can teach you!
Next Steps: Embracing Change
Learning about all of this may make you want to turn off your phone, slam your laptop shut, and place your fingers in your ears to shut out the noise. But, unlike an actual black hole, there is some light on the other side of the anxious event horizon.
“Viewing the anxious event horizon as a point of transition and possibility allows us to more easily embrace change as a catalyst for growth. ”
Start with setting realistic goals and breaking down the journey ahead into manageable steps. This provides a roadmap for progress through the uncertainty. And remember that it’s okay to adjust or pivot if something changes along the way.
Approaching a transition with an anxious event horizon can also be a good time to work on learning and skill development. A focus on personal and professional growth can be empowering and build confidence.
Try this exercise the next time you’re approaching an anxious event horizon:
Identify the Situation: Think of a recent situation in your life where you felt a surge of anxiety due to uncertainty or change. This could be a workplace transition, career decision, or personal life change.
Describe the Situation: Write a brief description of the situation, including the context, triggers, and the emotions you experienced. Consider the thoughts and feelings that emerged as you approached the horizon of uncertainty.
Prime Your Brain: Write a quick one sentence response to each of the following questions.
How did you initially react to the anxiety and uncertainty?
Did you seek support or cope independently?
Did your response align with your usual strategies for managing anxiety?
Analyze Your Reaction: Consider the impact of your response on your emotions, decision-making, and overall well-being. Reflect on whether your reaction was helpful or if there were aspects you wish you had handled differently.
Explore the Anxious Event Horizon: The anxious event horizon is a response to uncertainty–so this exercise allows you to imagine some potential outcomes and follow through with a coping strategy. It’s like a life vest you can put on before approaching the horizon.
Grab a sheet of paper and something to write with. On the left side of your paper, write a short description of the worst things that might happen. On the right side of the paper, write a short description of the best things that might happen.
In between the two, note any possible decision points that may happen in between.
Worst thing to happen → Decision → Decision → Decision → Best thing to happen
Now, looking back at your paper, consider the following:
What upcoming event is causing the stress?
Why does this provoke anxiety?
What’s the worst that could happen?
What’s the best that could happen?
Generate as many possibilities that fall in between the worst and best outcomes. Choose your own adventure–you can keep those possibilities very realistic and likely or be wildly creative and expansive.
Action Plan: The most supportive and valuable thing you can do for yourself during this process is to create an Action Plan. As you reflect on your answers to the exercises above, based on what you've learned about the anxious event horizon, brainstorm strategies that could have helped you navigate the situation more effectively. Consider mindfulness techniques, seeking support from others, reframing uncertainty as opportunity, breaking down the challenge into smaller steps, etc.
Select two or three strategies from your brainstorming list that resonate with you, and develop an action plan for how you can apply these strategies the next time you encounter an anxious event horizon.
The Anxious Event Horizon at an Organizational Level
If you’re a part of a leadership team or find yourself in a decision-making role, know that organizations also play a pivotal role in addressing the anxious event horizon. Transparent communication, empathetic leadership, and fostering a culture that embraces change are key elements in supporting employees through uncertainty. Providing resources for emotional well-being and facilitating open dialogues can create an environment where individuals are better equipped to handle anxiety-inducing situations.
If you are an organizational leader, board member, or a curious staff member, take the Leaving Well Assessment to discover your organization's transition readiness archetype at naomihataway.com/assessment.
To listen to an audio version of this article, listen to Episode 44 of the Leaving Well Podcast: Navigating the Anxious Event Horizon.