The Decision to Start Over — And How It Changed Everything

Daily writing prompt

Describe a decision you made in the past that helped you learn or grow.

There are moments in life where we find ourselves standing at a crossroads, staring down two vastly different paths. One feels familiar, even if it’s unsatisfying. The other? Unknown, risky, and lined with question marks. Years ago, I stood at that very place — professionally and personally exhausted — and I made the decision to start over.

At the time, it felt reckless. But now, looking back, it’s the decision that shaped who I am today.

The Burnout That Led Me There

I had a “good job.” You know the kind — decent salary, benefits, a respectable title. From the outside, everything looked stable and fine. But inside, I was drained. I’d lost the passion that once made me excited to wake up and work. I was tired of chasing deadlines that didn’t mean anything to me, sitting in meetings where my voice didn’t matter, and living for weekends that passed too quickly.

The burnout didn’t hit all at once. It built slowly, quietly, until I couldn’t ignore it anymore. I remember sitting at my desk one Tuesday afternoon, staring at a screen full of spreadsheets, thinking: Is this really it?

The Leap of Faith

I gave my notice two weeks later.

There was no new job lined up. No safety net. Just a deep sense that something had to change. I wasn’t sure what was next — and that was terrifying — but I knew I couldn’t keep living a life that felt so disconnected from who I really was.

I took time off. I slept. I read. I walked aimlessly. And then, I started writing again — something I hadn’t done since college. I took on a few freelance gigs. I reached out to people in different industries just to talk and listen. Slowly, a new path began to emerge — one that felt more aligned with my values and strengths.

What I Learned from That Choice

Walking away from “stability” taught me more than any job ever did. Here are a few of the biggest lessons:

Discomfort leads to growth – I was scared, broke, and uncertain for a while. But I learned how to be resourceful. I learned how to trust my gut. I discovered a resilience I didn’t know I had.
Passion matters – Life is too short to spend most of it doing something that drains you. When I leaned into work that actually inspired me — even when it paid less at first — I found more energy, creativity, and confidence than I ever had before.
You are allowed to change your mind – Just because a path once made sense doesn’t mean you’re locked into it forever. People evolve. Dreams shift. That’s not failure — that’s growth.
It’s okay not to have all the answers – Starting over doesn’t mean having a perfect plan. It means being brave enough to take one step forward, then another, even when the way ahead is foggy.

Where I Am Now

Years later, I’ve built a life I couldn’t have imagined back then. It’s still imperfect — of course it is — but it’s mine. I get to do work that challenges and excites me. I have more balance. And most importantly, I feel aligned with the person I’ve become.

I’m grateful every day that I made that choice. Not because it was easy — it absolutely wasn’t — but because it gave me the space to rediscover who I am and what I want from this life.

Final Thought

Sometimes the best decisions aren’t the ones that make sense on paper. They’re the ones that stir something inside you, even if they terrify you. If you’re standing at your own crossroads right now, unsure of what to do — I hope you give yourself permission to choose growth, even if it’s messy and uncertain.

Because sometimes, the most life-changing decision is the one that starts with simply walking away.