3 Main Reasons Affirming Steps are Important to Your Transition.
Transition is a highly individualized path. A decision only you can make for yourself.
When you make this decision, a mixture of feelings comes up:
Excitement
Fear
Overwhelmedness
Anxiety
Impatience
Sometimes, depending on the feelings you experience, you may want to take a step back. To retrieve. To question whether your decision is the right one.
For this reason, taking affirming steps toward your goals as you go along is important!
What exactly are affirming steps? Affirming steps are little tasks set up on your way to your goal.
Say, for example, your goal is to transition and you are just starting. Your first step could be exploring your preferred gender within social transition.
Followed by coming out, pronouns, preferred name and seeking a medical doctor to start HRT.
The steps are there to help you in a number of ways.
Here are three main reasons why affirming steps are not to be overlooked!
#1 HELPS ENSURE YOU ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK
One of the biggest benefits of taking affirming steps is the certainty each step offers in ensuring you are on the right track.
When you start out exploring your gender or starting your transition, you may experience looming feelings of potential regret.
Affirming steps help you feel out how you feel in your preferred gender within the context of social transition without jumping into medical transition.
If you feel affirmed in how you identify, you know you are on the right track and can move forward.
If not, it could indicate that you need more time to explore your gender.
#2 INCREASES CONFIDENCE AS YOU MOVE ALONG
As you continue taking affirming steps, aka small tasks within your goal, you should begin feeling more confident and assertive about who you are.
That’s because you are finally taking steps toward your authentic Self.
As a result, becoming more aware of who you truly are.
This awareness orients you and your experiences in the world from a more genuine perspective. Leading to a more holistic integration of the Self.
#3 INCREASES STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE TO MOVE FORWARD
As you take more and more affirming steps, you will also start confronting challenges.
As you overcome each challenge, your confidence and assertiveness will grow, leading to a stronger, more resilient Self.
Inner strength is important as it serves a vital part in offering resilience as you confront these challenges on your transition path.
Additionally, this strength will serve you well as you move through life.
YOU MAY LIKE THE FOLLOWING:
Your Gender is Not an Apology! 3 Steps Toward Self Acceptance.
The Most Dangerous Way in Which Gender Dysphoria Affects Your Life!
Here are KEY Reasons Why You Need a Gender Therapist & How to Find One!