Signs It’s Time to Let Go of a Path You’ve Outgrown
You can have the perfect pros-and-cons list…
The spreadsheet of dreams…
The calendar, the timeline, the vision board.
And still feel like something’s off.
Because here’s the thing:
Sometimes what used to fit you—no longer does.
Sometimes what once felt like the “right” path starts to feel like walking around in shoes that no longer fit.
But how do you know when it’s time to let go?
Especially when it still makes sense on paper?
That’s the problem, right? Because so many of us were taught to stick it out. To be logical. To make it work.
And if we didn’t? Then we were made to feel like we failed. (Even if that measurement for success was impossible to achieve in the first place.)
Those instincts to stick things out aren’t bad. But they can cloud your ability to trust something deeper: your inner knowing. Your intuition, your gut feeling. That quiet voice that says: This isn’t it anymore.
So today, I want to offer five gentle signs that you might be holding onto something that’s run its course—even if it still “looks good.”
1. You keep saying “it’s not that bad.”
Maybe it’s a job. A relationship. A project.
You find yourself minimizing your discomfort.
You tell yourself others have it worse.
You remind yourself of all the reasons you should be grateful.
And yet… your body tightens every time you think about it.
Saying “it’s not that bad” is often a sign you’re gaslighting yourself into staying somewhere you’ve outgrown.
2. You’re not dreaming about what’s next—because you’re too tired just getting through today.
You used to have ideas. Energy. Excitement.
Now? It’s just survival mode.
It might not mean you’re doing the “wrong” thing.
But it could mean that thing is no longer nourishing you.
When the well is dry, it’s okay to stop drawing from it.
3. You can’t imagine letting it go—because of how much you’ve already invested.
Ah yes, the good ol’ sunk-cost fallacy.
You’ve put in years. Energy. Money. Identity.
It feels like you can’t walk away now.
But here’s the hard truth with a soft landing:
Staying just because you’ve already spent so much is like keeping a pair of shoes that give you blisters—because they were expensive.
You deserve more than blistered feet and a life that pinches.
4. You’re doing all the “right” things—and still feeling disconnected.
You’re checking the boxes. Hitting the goals.
Maybe even succeeding by other people’s standards.
But inside? Something feels hollow.
You might be performing alignment instead of living it.
And the scariest part of letting go might be this:
You don’t know what’s next.
But maybe that’s not a sign to push through.
Maybe it’s a chance to get still and listen to the voice underneath the noise.
5. You keep looking for permission.
From a mentor. A therapist. A partner. A friend.
You want someone to say, “Yes, it’s okay to stop.”
You want proof it’s the right move.
You want clarity—but only if it comes with a guarantee.
I get it. That’s human.
But sometimes, the clarity doesn’t come first.
The clarity comes when you make space for it.
And P.S.? You never have to ask anyone else for permission to be you.
Letting Go Doesn’t Mean You’ve Failed
It just means you’re evolving.
You’re allowed to release something that no longer fits—even if it once did.
Even if people don’t understand.
Even if it’s uncomfortable.
Because letting go isn’t just about saying no.
It’s about saying yes to what’s next.
Even if you don’t know what that is yet.
Ready for the next chapter?
Inside The Opt-Out Club, you’ll find:
✨ Gentle monthly shifts to help you reconnect with what matters
✨ Audio guides, journaling prompts, and reflection tools to help you get clear (without burning out)
✨ A cozy space to explore what’s next—without pressure to have it all figured out
If you’re standing at a crossroads, wondering if it’s time to let go…
You don’t have to do it alone.
