We all hate admitting when life doesn’t go the way that we plan it. After all, we spend years poring over our plans for our dream lives, and we promise ourselves that we won’t stop working until we fulfill our dreams.
But what happens when our dreams change?
Sometimes, your dream changes subtly. The same work that once brought you joy may now overwhelm you. You may feel exhausted and numb, even though you spent the day doing what you “love.” You may start to wonder if the life that you always thought you wanted is still the life that you want to pursue. You can’t shake the feeling that you need to make some changes.
Other times, you experience a devastating blow that forces you to change your course. Maybe the person you thought was “the one” turns out to be the worst possible person for you. Maybe you lose your dream job. And maybe you begin to lose yourself, and you no longer recognize the person looking back at you in the mirror.
Maybe it’s time to start over.
In a world where people broadcast their lives online 24/7, starting over can feel debilitating. Admitting that you no longer want what you once had can make you feel like a failure. Social media forces us to compare ourselves to others, which makes it easy to feel like we’re the only ones struggling. When all you see are others’ highlight reels, you may feel like needing to change your plan will ruin your life.
But starting over doesn’t need to be synonymous with failure. When you allow yourself the freedom to begin again, you’ll find quiet strength in starting over.
You might be afraid. You might feel like you have no idea what you’re doing. That’s completely normal. It’s all part of the process.
If you’re in a situation that you know isn’t right for you, then you owe it to yourself to leave and start fresh. No one deserves to feel stuck in a dead end, whether it’s a relationship, a marriage, or a career. Choosing what’s best for yourself doesn’t make you a failure; it makes you strong. After all, looking your pain in the eye and telling yourself that you won’t tolerate it anymore is no easy task.
Never underestimate your strength to begin again. If you need a change in life, allow yourself the opportunity to try something new. Let yourself live the life that’s best for you, even if that is different from the life that you always envisioned for yourself.
Your life isn’t a static vision board.
Change is inevitable. And you can either let change break you, or you can allow it to help you move forward. You can let change help you heal.
At the end of the day, you’re living your life for yourself. So ask yourself what you need to be happy. And if you need to start over, know that you owe it to yourself to make that change.
Featured Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash.
Starting over is never easy, but choosing yourself and your happiness is always a brave decision