Go easy on yourself. This is a time of transition. There will be ups and downs and “all-arounds”. At times you may feel like going to extremes in your behavior or that you are “out of control” with rebellion. Be patient with yourself. The pendulum will probably swing a little. Be aware.
No need to convince. Your loved ones and friends may try to “reclaim” you. You may feel a need to contend with them. You may insist that they understand you or should accompany you. This surely leads to misery. There is no need to convince them and you don’t need to invite them to convince you of anything. Find non-confrontational ways to explain yourself when it is appropriate to do so.
Create a new support system. This takes time. Slowly begin to make new friends who understand your plight and discover whom among your current friends are true to you and your cause.
Feeling alone is part of it. You’re making a decision that fundamentally diverges from those in your social circle. Learning to tolerate being alone and living without the approval of peers will be helpful.
Discover your values. This may take some time and professional guidance. It will be worth your effort to discover what is truly important to you at this point in your life – and feel it deeply. Your core values can serve as your guide in finding inner peace and making important decisions independently.
Set goals. Determine what you really want and begin to make it happen.
Find your replacement. Study consciousness, meditation, agnosticism or atheism, philosophy or psychology, mysticism, or other schools of thought. Find a way to invest your mind and heart into a belief system in which you can be genuinely satisfied.
Find someone to talk with. You may need someone to listen and offer objective and supportive feedback.
