College Drop Off: 6 Steps to Navigating Any Major Change Like a Pro | The Mel Robbins Podcast

ℹ️ EPISODE INFO

Released

August 21, 2023

Duration

40m

Channel

The Mel Robbins Podcast

Watch on YouTube

▶ Open ↗

📝 EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Order your copy of The Let Them Theory 👉 https://melrob.co/let-them-theory 👈 The #1 Best Selling Book of 2025 🔥 Discover how much power you truly have. It all begins with two simple words. Let Them. — In today’s episode, you are getting a relatable and hilarious guide to navigating major transitions like a pro. Join me in a real and raw conversation with my friends and colleagues, Amy and Lynne, as we unpack the major mistakes and 6 lessons learned from "horrible" college drop-off experiences (both our own and the ones we had with our kids) and the fear that comes with any major transition in your life. Whether you’ve got kids or not, these 6 lessons apply to you. Everyone is going through some kind of transition right now: back to school, back to work, and dropping out of college. It’s a time of saying goodbye, of saying hello to new chapters, and of helping people move into new dorms and apartments and transition to new jobs or a new grade. That means it is the perfect time to learn the 6 lessons I learned (the hard way) about managing big life transitions without losing your sh*t. Listen and Learn:

• The RIGHT way to empower someone who is drowning in self-doubt
• The #1 thing to say to help anyone move forward with confidence
• The 4 words that will help you or your child commit to change
• A science-backed "bridging" tool to help any child feeling nervous
• The 2 most important qualities you have to let your child borrow from you
• Why feeling scared and anxious before a big change is mentally healthy.

Xo, Mel In this episode: 00:00 Intro 02:55 Hear one mom’s mistake after dropping her child off at college. 04:32 And what this mom did differently for her second child. 08:08 The drop-off experience that I wish I’d done differently. 10:27 Say THIS to your kids to help them ride the wave of emotions. 11:57 What you think you will feel is different from reality and that’s ok. 15:37 The #1 tool you have to let your child borrow from you.. 18:21 Use this preschool trick from psychologists when you leave your kids. 22:50 Remember this the next time you start to overthink. 29:46 Recapping 4 major takeaways. 31:57 A fighter pilot shares how to gain control of your emotions. 33:36 I’ve used this trick often to help others adjust to change in their lives. 35:23 Feeling sad or uncertain about change? Good; you’re normal. #college #newbeginnings #changeyourlife — Follow Mel: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melrobbins/ TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@melrobbins Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melrobbins LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melrobbins Website: http://melrobbins.com​ — Sign up for Mel’s newsletter: https://melrob.co/sign-up-newsletter A note from Mel to you, twice a week, sharing simple, practical ways to build the life you want. — Subscribe to Mel’s channel here: https://www.youtube.com/melrobbins​?sub_confirmation=1 — Listen to The Mel Robbins Podcast 🎧 New episodes drop every Monday & Thursday! https://melrob.co/spotify https://melrob.co/applepodcasts https://melrob.co/amazonmusic — Looking for Mel’s books on Amazon? Find them here: The Let Them Theory: https://amzn.to/3IQ21Oe The Let Them Theory Audiobook: https://amzn.to/413SObp The High 5 Habit: https://amzn.to/3fMvfPQ The 5 Second Rule: https://amzn.to/4l54fah

🎤 SPEAKERS

• Mel Robbins

  host

• Amy

  guest

• Lynne

  guest

🧾 EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of The Mel Robbins Podcast, featuring Mel Robbins and Amy, College Drop Off: 6 Steps to Navigating Any Major Change Like a Pro | The Mel Robbins Podcast explores handle Big Life Changes: Mel Robbins’ Six-Step Confidence Playbook Mel Robbins, with friends and colleagues Amy and Lynn, unpacks the emotional chaos around major life transitions like college drop-off, new jobs, and post-college moves. They explore how parents often get swept into their kids’ distress and accidentally undermine their resilience. Through personal stories, they outline healthier ways to respond: anchoring confidence, normalizing fear, and creating emotional ‘bridges’ to the future. The episode ultimately reframes anxiety during change as a sign of mental health and offers concrete strategies for supporting others—and yourself—through transitions.

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