INTROSPECTION

5 questions that inspired me to quit my job and move across the country.

I always have a plan.

I believe people who tend to feel unsafe are always, instinctively, planning an escape of sorts. I always know where the exits are in the room.

Before I show up to any event, I’ve already decided when I’m going to leave. I rehearse how I’m going to excuse myself.

Variables aren’t exciting. Spontaneous moments don’t tantalize me.

I’m recovering from an incalculable amount of sporadic chaos and unjustifiable loss. I’m no longer a “we’ll see what happens” kind of woman.

I have to have a plan.

Something about the illusion of control comforts a part of me that can’t handle any more surprise endings.

Years ago, I started emphasizing the idea of creating an exit strategy before walking away from an opportunity in search of another.

Exit strategies are beneficial for investors and business owners who want contingency plans in place to nullify risk quickly or liquidate elements of a business.

When used for personal decision-making, I believe an exit strategy is a carefully contemplated escape route for anyone who is craving change.

Being familiar with the symptoms of burnout, and preparing for the inevitable, is an incredible life skill that prevents so much headache and financial strain.

I used to wait until my body collapsed to “quit” unhealthy gigs. I thought holding on to every opportunity for dear life was the professional thing to do. I thought staying in codependent relationships was an admirable thing to do. The body will eventually break under the weight of aggressive, consistent stress. It’s unavoidable.

I learned to listen to those initial nudges in my spirit that were trying to save me from emotional deflation and panic attacks. I learned to start packing and preparing to exit as soon as the symptoms of burnout showed up in my body.

I am always ready for change.

I used to give advice full-time, long before I realized that I’m a better grasshopper than sensei.

When people coping with burnout asked me how to gracefully quit a job or walk away from a toxic relationship, I created prompts to help them work through the process on paper.

Starting over is a draining series of life-altering decisions that are weighted and psychologically taxing. As a highly sensitive person, I learned the hard way that emotionally charged, rushed exits aren’t as healthy as strategic, well-planned transitions.

I’m a highly analytical person who enjoys creating spreadsheets and reducing the margin of error whenever possible.

I’m not suggesting all of life’s variables can be avoided with obsessive planning. But a little preparation never hurt nobody.

The questions I’m sharing helped me make major decisions that changed the trajectory of my life.

I realized, in my 20s, that I was living someone else’s story. I had no authentic idea who I wanted to be or what I hoped to experience during this lifetime. Every decision I’d ever made was a trauma response or the result of corporate peer pressure.

I knew I needed to make some changes but I had no idea where to begin. Strategic planning became a steady, reliable practice that helped me draft details about living a more meaningful life. I figured out what inspires me and what matters most. I abandoned everything that didn’t align.

Here are the questions that set me free.

1. Who do you want to be?

2. Are the people closest to you, helping you become the person you described above?

3. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live? Who would you take with you?

4. Do you enjoy the work you’re doing? If not, what specific action can you take to align yourself with an opportunity that excites you?

5. What are you willing to try for the first time? What risks are you willing to take to create a more meaningful life?

You’re welcome to answer one (or more) of these questions in the comments.