The move abroad is happening, so why does it feel so emotional?

You sell a piece of furniture.
Book the one-way flight.
Cancel a standing commitment.

And just like that, it hits you: this is really happening.

What felt like a distant idea suddenly becomes real.
Exciting, yes.
But also… unsettling.

Because behind every practical step of an international move, there’s an emotional one most people don’t talk about.

You’re not just relocating your life, you’re loosening your roots.

The Grief Behind the Adventure

Even when the move is something you want, it can stir a quiet grief.

Grief for the version of you who always showed up for family things.
Grief for the easy proximity to your parents, your friends, your rituals.
Grief for the familiar language that helped you feel understood without effort.

You may know you’ll visit. You may even speak multiple languages fluently.
But your nervous system doesn’t deal in logic, it deals in safety.
And suddenly, the ground is shifting.

“I Thought I’d Feel Free, Why Do I Feel So Anxious?”

Many women dream of moving abroad as a kind of liberation, from stress, overcommitment, familiar roles. But as the move approaches, something surprising happens:

You start to feel... raw.

Even with four languages under your belt, your voice might feel smaller in a new country.
Even with therapy or personal growth behind you, the guilt of leaving loved ones can still sting.
Even with all the plans in place, the emotional rollercoaster might still catch you off guard.

This doesn’t mean you’re not ready.
It means you’re human.

Moving Abroad Is a Threshold, and Thresholds Are Tender

You’re stepping across a line.
From what you’ve known to what you don’t yet know.
From who you’ve had to be to who you might become.

It’s natural that it brings up emotion.

Even excitement can coexist with grief.
Even capability can coexist with fear.

This Isn’t Just a Move, It’s an Emotional Rite of Passage

In the lead-up to a big move, there’s often a pause, a liminal space where old identities feel loose, but the new ones haven’t landed yet.

It can feel disorienting.
But it can also be deeply clarifying.

Because without the constant noise of old responsibilities and routines, you may find yourself asking different questions:

Who am I when I’m not the one holding everything together?
What do I want my new life to feel like, not just look like?
How do I want to show up, this time, for me?

If you’re in this moment, where the excitement of the move meets the ache of letting go, know this:

You’re not falling apart.
You’re crossing into a new version of yourself.

Let the tears come. Let the fear sit beside the thrill. Let it all be part of the process.

You’re not just moving to a new country.
You’re making space to come home to yourself.

If this speaks to what you're feeling right now, you’re not alone, and you don’t have to navigate it alone either.

I work with women who are moving abroad (or have already made the move) and are surprised by how emotional the process can be, especially when old patterns and feelings start to rise in the quiet.

Whether you're feeling anxious, ungrounded, or simply craving a space to land emotionally, you're welcome to connect.

🌀 Join me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560536881790, I share gentle guidance for navigating life abroad, healing family patterns, and reconnecting with yourself.

You can also reach out if you're curious about working together, online or in-person in Spain. I'd be honoured to walk alongside you in this season of change.

This is deep, powerful work and you're already in it.