For much of my earlier life, I adhered to the well-trodden path of the so-called American Dream. I pursued higher education, earned my degrees, and accumulated valuable experience working with esteemed organizations. Along this journey, I encountered remarkable individuals—and, admittedly, a few whose acquaintance I could have done without. I cultivated meaningful friendships, navigated professional highs and lows, and achieved milestones that society often equates with success: purchasing my first apartment, owning multiple cars, indulging in travel, and acquiring the material comforts I'd once aspired to.
Then one day, without warning or ceremony, I woke up with a startling realization: the very path I'd invested over 16 years of my life in no longer served me. In fact, it felt more like a gilded cage than a triumph. As my life evolved—embracing roles as a mother, wife, stepmother, etc. —so too did my desires. I found myself questioning not just my career, but the very framework upon which I'd built my life.
Have you ever experienced that unsettling moment of clarity? When you pause, look around at the meticulously constructed life you’ve created, and quietly wonder, “Is this it?” It wasn’t dissatisfaction with my job per se. It was the profound realization that while I had grown, my life had not evolved to reflect that growth. The carefully crafted routine that once offered structure now felt suffocating.
What do you do when you realize the life you've meticulously curated no longer fits the person you're becoming?
Initially, I panicked. I found myself wading through self-doubt, questioning every decision that had led me here. Had I wasted my time? Was it too late to pivot? How would I sustain my family, my responsibilities, my identity? You know, the existential crisis playlist on repeat. But here’s the revelation that emerged from the fog: I wasn’t starting over. I was evolving.
Growth isn’t synonymous with abandonment. It doesn’t negate the value of what came before. Instead, it acknowledges that the person you were was exactly who you needed to be, and the person you're becoming deserves space to flourish.
For me, that meant embracing entrepreneurship—a path that allowed me to apply my skills in ways that felt meaningful, not just profitable. It meant creating a life that wasn’t confined to the rigidity of a 9-to-5 schedule, but one that made room for joy, for family, for purpose.
Some days are seamless; others are complex tapestries of triumphs and trials. But the difference now? I’m living a life aligned with who I am, not who I was.
If you’re a working professional, a mother balancing ambition with family life, or someone standing at the crossroads of “what is” and “what could be,” know this:
You’re not lost. You’re simply standing on the threshold of transformation.
Don’t quit on yourself.
Don’t quit on your dreams.
Don’t quit on the life that’s waiting for you to claim it.
Instead, pivot. Adjust. Lean into the discomfort, because that’s where growth resides. The truth is, we don’t outgrow our lives. We outgrow the limitations we once believed were permanent.
So, if you find yourself contemplating a change, unsure of what comes next, take a deep breath.
You’re not starting over. You’re becoming.
And the next version of you? She’s extraordinary.
Erington Boyd, CEO & Founder
The Black Diamond Accounting Group
She Builds, She Leads, She Owns - Guiding women to success!
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