5 reasons why I left my full-time job and never looked back.

            I remember the moment I finished graduate school, and as I walked across the stage with my pockets full of hopes and dreams, I remember thinking to myself; “I’m going to help so many people. I am going to make all this money! This is going to be amazing." There is beauty and a great sense of gratitude that I experience daily, but at times the work is draining. I often wonder, should I have been a plumber, an accountant, or something? 

            I left my full-time job as a clinical supervisor earlier this year and when people learn about my recent changes, I find that people are either utterly confused or very jealous. Some of my co-workers most likely want to assess my mental stability; I was making a solid salary and had good benefits. However, I had this aching since of not feeling fulfilled and I just couldn’t shake this feeling. After partaking in copious amounts of self-torture, I decided that I had to make a change. 

            So, I started a private practice, enrolled in a coaching program, found a part-time gig to hold me over, and finally quit my job. I was determined to live on pure hope, a lot of caffeine, and good-old fashioned hard-work.

            Do I regret this decision? Hell no. Do I wake up at 5:00 a.m. sometimes and think about my old navy bill (I’m a sucker for their sweaters) and how I am going to pay for it, sometimes.  Through the emotional rollercoaster, I am learning a lot about myself and finding that balance that we are all so craving. 

         Here five things that I am taking away from my journey so far:

          1.     If not now, when?

          There is never a good time to go work-rogue. People are always going to question your judgement and/or your sanity. I can easily identify 1,967 excuses as to why this was a terrible idea....I did it anyway.

2.   I became a money-saving, discount seeking warrior

            I have never in my short career, had to think about not having a consistent pay schedule. My relationship with money was forced to change. I must be strategic; by how I plan out meals, social outings, and how I pay my bills. It’s been challenging at times, and I am beginning to look at internal happiness as more of priority than material gain.

3.   The V word (vulnerability)

            It took a lot of vulnerability to leave my job and start something scary and uncomfortable. I feel more fear than ever before, except for when I watched ANY of the nightmare on elm street movies. I learned that I must be comfortable with being uncomfortable. After all, that's what being vulnerable is all about, right?

4.   Hire a coach…. asap

            I almost stopped breathing when I decided to commit to getting a coach. It’s a huge investment of time, energy and money. However, I don’t think I would of have taken the leap if it weren’t for my coach. Like most of us, life happens, distractions happen, and our human brains create anxiety. Anxiety creates fear and fear creates procrastination. My coach calls me out when I’m not getting things done. She knows me without even saying that she knows me. If this is your first rodeo, you need someone to wrangle you in. 

5.   APP (allow, patience, and persistence)

            You are probably thinking, "oh great, another acronym; just what the world needs." However, this my friend, this acronym is what I must practice daily. I am learning to allow things to happen in their own time. I am learning that I must be patient with myself and the process.  I am also learning that I must be persistent and continue to push myself even when this all feels "too hard."

            Taking risks is NEVER easy, wildly unpopular, and often causes people to have A TON of feelings. People will often say; “I’m scared to do this, I need health insurance, what if I fail?" I am learning that I can’t own any of this. None. Zero. Zilch.  I think there is solidarity in “You do you,” “YOLO,” or any other widely overused slogan or motivational quote that you can think of. We all want more than just the daily hustle. 

            As I write this blog, I am sitting in a Starbucks, in the middle of the day, doing one of the things that I love doing, without having to stare at an office wall.  The moments like these, where I have the freedom to be me, make life worth living. Just remember, you too can be a walking cliché of inspirational quotes.