It was over breakfast at one of our recent InSync events that one member – let’s call her Elise -captured something many returning expats feel but don’t always say aloud. Elise has been home ten months, and is working in a job she’s enjoying. ‘Technically, everything is fine. But I miss the ease of being in a place that felt familiar – and where I felt connected, both professionally and personally… Some days, it feels like I’m struggling to keep my hands on the wheel.’
The metaphor stuck – sparking many conversations since about how we steady ourselves, both professionally and personally. And then there’s the identity shift – no longer being the ‘Aussie in New York / London / Hong Kong’, but simply…back. It’s a quiet disorientation that many don’t expect, but almost all feel.
Because for so many globally experienced professionals, returning to a once familiar place isn’t the smooth landing you expected. Even when the logistics are sorted – the move complete, the job lined up, the kids in school – there can still be this unsettling in-between phase. A season of feeling adrift.
Maybe the job hasn’t landed yet. Or it has, but it’s taking time to feel ‘in sync’ (pardon the pun!) with the local market. Perhaps your network hasn’t reactivated as you hoped – or rebuilding it is harder than anticipated. The familiar feels unfamiliar. Even when work is good, the emotional and social reintegration can surprise you and catch you off guard – filled with unexpected moments of doubt, comparison, or longing.
But here’s what I want to remind you: This phase is not a failure. It’s a season – not a sentence. And in this season, the most important thing you can do is simple (though not always easy): hold the wheel.
So, if you find yourself in the messy middle – not quite settled, not quite sure – here are a few ways to steady your grip and hold the wheel.
- Trust the Planning
Let’s start here. If you’ve made it back to Australia, chances are your decision wasn’t a random or quick one. You thought through the move. You mapped out your motivations for return, your career goals, your finances, your family’s needs. You made trade-offs. You probably even told yourself: ‘It’s okay if it’s a bit messy at the start.’
So, if it’s messy now – don’t panic.
Just because the transition doesn’t feel seamless doesn’t mean your planning was flawed. Sometimes, a well-made plan simply takes time to unfold. Trust the work you did to get here.
- Watch for the Wobble (It Doesn’t Mean You’re Off Track)
That disorientation you’re feeling? It’s more common than you think. Confidence dips. You second-guess your choices. The job market feels different. Your title doesn’t carry the same weight. You wonder if you should pivot again – and quickly.
This is the wobble. And it doesn’t mean you’re off course.
As one InSync Club member said, ‘I kept thinking I’d made a mistake. But when I spoke to others, I realised I was just in the bend of the road – not heading in the wrong direction.’
Transitions test our patience. Our sense of identity. But they’re also clarifying. If you can stay steady through the wobble, you’ll come out stronger, more aligned, and with clearer direction.
- The Social Side Takes Time
Professionally, things might be progressing – but emotionally? Socially? That can feel like starting from scratch.
It’s not just about building new friendships. It’s about rebuilding familiarity. Finding those who understand your global experiences without needing the full backstory. Feeling ‘known and understood’ again.
This part takes bandwidth. And grace. As one member shared, it felt like ‘learning to belong all over again – even in a city I felt deeply connected to.’
- What Holding the Wheel Looks Like
So what does ‘holding the wheel’ actually look like? It’s about steering – not sprinting. Here are a few ways to stay grounded and intentional:
- Revisit your roadmap: Remind yourself why you came back and what success looks like for you. Check in with head, heart and gut – does the plan still align with your goals, your values and your instincts?
- Lean into support: Whether it’s a coach, mentor, or peer group, don’t navigate solo. (InSync was built for this.)
- Connect with others on the same road: Fellow repats (past and present) offer not just camaraderie – but clarity. Shared experiences remind you that wobbles are normal and temporary.
- Time-bound your next check-in: Rather than rushing into a pivot, set a timeframe (eg. 3 or 6 months) to reassess with fresh eyes. It’s not about never changing lanes- it’s about making the switch once you’ve checked your mirrors, not in the middle of the wobble.
Holding the wheel doesn’t mean doing nothing – it means steering with care and conviction.
- Stay Steady, Not Stagnant
There’s a difference between pausing and parking. Holding steady doesn’t mean you’re stuck. It means you’re aware. You’re present. You’re navigating with intention rather than impulse.
Momentum can come from many places – not just the job. Maybe it’s contributing to a project, joining an advisory board, or mentoring someone else. Each of these can bring progress, visibility, and new clarity.
So, if you’re in the middle of that unsettled stretch, take heart. You’re not lost – you’re just in the curve. Keep your hands steady. Trust the road you chose. And hold the wheel.
If you’d like to steady your own wheel alongside others navigating the same road, come join us at the InSync community – we’d love to connect. You can connect with me directly here or via email: margot@insyncnetworkgroup.com
