I spent years trapped in a job that left me feeling lost, drained, and unfulfilled. And many times I thought of leaving and starting something new. But every time I quickly came up with reasons why I should stay put.

I’ve studied the subject for 4 years at university.

I’ve worked over 10 years in the industry and I’m now working as a senior. How can I throw all of this away?

I haven’t even repaid my student loan yet.

These thoughts—and countless others—kept me from living the life I so deeply yearned for.

I often imagined what it would feel like to wake up in the morning without the weight of looming meetings or stressful tasks hanging over me. Without the anxiety of figuring out how to tell my manager—yet again—that I wasn’t feeling well. What I resented most was needing permission to stay home and care for my sick daughter, or having to make up time for every hospital appointment I attended. It felt like my life wasn’t mine.

And I imagine that’s exactly how every employee must have felt.

But I guess that was my biggest problem.

I didn’t want to be an employee. I was disciplined enough and I wanted to make my own decisions when it comes to how I spend my time, every day.

But instead I was trading it for money.

it took me over 12 years to finally realise that I wasn’t just trading my time—I was giving away my dreams, my passions, my soul… my very self. I had voluntarily placed myself in a cage, mistaking security for freedom and routine for purpose. I wasn’t just working a job—I was slowly abandoning who I truly was.

And so many of us do exactly the same thing.

We chain ourselves to a pay-check, to the illusion of security, to a sense of belonging that was never truly ours—all out of fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear of losing everything we’ve worked so hard to build.

But actually that’s an illusory prison we unknowingly lock ourselves in. It’s never too late to start fresh.

As people say:

“You can’t go down the wrong path and expect to end up in the right place”

So I challenge you today, to stop and consider. What do you truly want and does it align with your life today? If yes, that’s wonderful!

But if the answer is No, know this:

No matter where you are in life right now or how far down a certain path you’ve gone, you can always start fresh. You can always change direction. And remember—even if it feels like you’re throwing everything you’ve achieved away, you’re not. You’re simply choosing growth over comfort, alignment over achievement, and a future that finally feels like you