Feeling Stuck? Why It’s Okay to Reconsider Your Path

Overwhelmed, unfulfilled, or questioning living out your choices? You’re not alone. Let’s talk about why change isn’t failure—it’s growth

“Raise your hand if you think you might get fired or want to quit your job!” I said, half-joking, as I listened to a group of young women share their struggles with their first full-time jobs. To my surprise, every hand went up. The room filled with laughter—relieved, vulnerable, real.

Each woman in that circle was wrestling with the same tension, sitting in a role that no longer fit quite right. For some, it was a job that felt too small, for others, the weight of responsibilities that seemed to stifle their joy. They had all once believed that these jobs, these choices, would be the perfect fit. And now, here we were, looking around and quietly wondering, What’s next?

“Maybe you need someone to tell you that no matter how much you wanted something, prayed for something, or worked hard to get it, if the room no longer seems to fit, it’s good to begin to explore why. You are allowed to ask questions. You are allowed to reconsider. You are allowed to look around and to look again.”

Emily P Freeman

Removing all assumed limitations, each woman began to write down five alternate lives she would live if she weren’t living this one. Some imagined creating music, others dreamed of starting nonprofits or small businesses, and some simply wanted to rest. It wasn’t about making a drastic life change right then and there. Instead, it was about honoring the part of us that still longed to create, to dream, to become.

It’s easy to think that wanting change is risky or disloyal, especially when you’ve worked so hard for something. But growth—true, honest growth—often means we have to let go of the path we once chose to find the one that fits today. Sometimes, it means looking around and letting yourself ask, Is this still right for me?

One university I worked for recently shared a startling statistic: 85% of the jobs that today’s graduates will take over the next decade don’t even exist yet. The world is changing faster than we can predict, and as it changes, we’re invited to change with it. You are allowed to evolve as life does. To step away from one dream to honor a new one.

Think back to your younger self—five-year-old you, ten-year-old you, high school you. What did she dream about? What did she want? And then ask yourself, how have those dreams changed? And if they have, what’s stirring in you today?

“It is not disloyal to change. It is irreverent not to.” Bob Goff

I shared this quote with a student once, and she tilted her head and said, “I’m not really sure what irreverent means.” After a quick Google search, we discovered it means a lack of respect. Somehow that hit differently. We often feel that changing direction means we’re betraying the person we once thought we should be or letting someone down. But perhaps the real disservice to yourself is staying somewhere that no longer aligns with your heart. Change is part of the journey, and it’s a sign of deep respect for who you’re becoming.

The process of discovering who we are doesn’t have to be so fixed. Sometimes, we’re sure of a choice and commit to it with all our heart. Other times, we’re exploring, testing out options, getting a feel for what aligns with us today. And some days, it feels like we’re not doing either—we’re just tired, unsure of what to do next. It doesn’t mean something is wrong with us. It’s simply a part of life’s rhythm. Sometimes, we’ll feel clear, and sometimes, we’ll feel stuck. But this is the work of becoming: staying open to change while holding onto what feels true.

So, take a moment with me. If the room you’re in no longer fits, allow yourself to look around. Ask yourself what’s working and what isn’t. And then dream a little.

If you could try something different, what might that be? If you could create a life that aligned with your values, what might it look like? It’s not about finding all the answers right now. It’s about giving yourself permission to ask the questions, to trust that you’re allowed to explore.

And in the process, remember this: you are not behind. You’re not lost. You are simply becoming. There’s no need to rush. Your path doesn’t have to be perfectly clear or final. You are allowed to take each step with grace, to honor what feels true for you today, knowing that change will always be part of your story.

You are exactly where you need to be—holding space for yourself, one breath at a time.