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Being an expat: a privilege or a hidden pressure?
From the outside, it looks like a dream : new country, new culture, new opportunities.But behind the excitement often hides an invisible pressure: to perform, to adapt, to prove that the move was worth it.
stephanie laurent
October 26, 2025
Working abroad is often seen as a privilege: a career booster, a symbol of adaptability and success.
But behind this image lies a quieter reality: constant pressure, self-expectation, and emotional fatigue that often go unnoticed.
The excitement… then the challenge
A new country brings its lots of excitement and disruption.
New people, new codes, new ways of working.
That’s what we call the “honeymoon” phase. And then comes the hidden pressure to overperform…”because you’ve been relocated there”
Always available, from early calls to late nights.
Never showing your limits.
Afraid to fail or sense of FOMO
This pressure may look like commitment, but it quietly drains your energy.
Your expectations become high, too high..
Many expats silence that moment;
The expectations come:
From your company : your want to prove you can perform and adapt flawlessly.
From your family: you want to make it worth the sacrifice.
From yourselves : to prove you made the right choice.
These demands aren’t always spoken, but they are often part of our coaching conversations.
When confidence starts to fade
Impostor syndrome often hits harder abroad, and that’s what I am noticing more and more
You’re competent, yet you doubt yourself.
Why? Because everything feels different : language, culture, feedback, even success metrics
The goal isn’t to silence these doubts, but to learn to move forward with them.
Finding your balance, and knowing who to talk to
Whether you’re an expat or working locally, take time to check in with yourself:
Do I feel valued in my role?
Am I still growing, or just getting through the day?
And please, don’t keep it for yoruselves, create spaces to talk.
Peer groups,
coaching, or
honest conversations with colleagues can help you see you’re not alone.
They turn isolation into connection, and pressure into growth.
🎯 This month, I’m offering a few complimentary one-on-one coaching sessions to have a confidential conversation about your professional goals and explore what could help you move forward with greater clarity and confidence.
Book your slot here : https://calendly.com/steph-laurent-coaching/book-a-60-min-discovery-call
Spots are limited.
Yours,
Stephanie.