A Different Way to Look at Potential Problems Related to Transition.
Dr. Z explains how to look at potential problems you might encounter from transitioning so they don't become impediments.
Potential problems you might be anticipating as a result of transitioning: loss of male privilege, loss of other privileges, loss of employment, being objectified and sexualized (if transitioning to feminine spectrum), never feeling enough (if transitioning to masculine spectrum), never feeling complete, never being passable, people looking at you as lesser than because you're transgender.
People who warn you against these problems tend to fall in categories: (1) Cisgender people who are inexperienced or experienced with things themselves and shooting it as a warning label, (2) Transgender people themselves. Regardless of who tells you, it can impede your decision to transition because hearing people tell you problems you'll encounter is never pleasant. Our mind as a machine likes to grasp and hold onto these problems, clench onto them, then spin out a narrative of you never being able to transition.
Anticipating problems/struggles/obstacles is naturally normal—life is one big obstacle. Everybody encounters obstacles. For some people obstacles seem bigger in proportion to others, but everybody always encounters obstacles. Life without obstacles is not life—it doesn't happen.
Watch to find out why obstacles are normal and anticipating them in relationship to transition is not a bad thing (helps you have realistic expectations, helps you navigate and create resources you need when those things come), Dr. Z's philosophy (you'll have problems/obstacles no matter what—problems are always there, she'd rather have problems in the future in alignment with who she is so she'll have some level of enjoyment solving them because she knows she's on a way to who she is versus having problems in disalignment with who she is), and why choosing obstacles in alignment with your path (toward who you are) versus obstacles in disalignment (gender dysphoria, incongruency you're suffering) makes you feel proud, happy, elevated (one more step closer to being the person you are) versus meeting obstacles with resistance.
