The Healing Power of Quitting
How Letting Go of the Wrong Dreams Led Me To the Right One
For the past couple of years I had been feeling burnt out on my job as a traveling medical lab tech and was searching for something that I could do for a career that would give me the flexibility I was after. At first, I started learning about tech jobs, thinking I could go into coding or cyber security. It didn’t take long before I realized that while I was smart enough to understand the information, I was also desperately bored. So, when I decided to find something else, and told my fiancé about wishing I could help more people find affordable housing and potentially own their homes, she suggested I could go into real estate. This seemed like a logical move to me, so I got started right away. And at first, everything was fine. I started studying to get my license and learning what I could about the job on my own. I finished up my last hospital contract and moved myself to Pennsylvania.
There was a lot happening in my life between leaving that job and actually getting my license. Between my father being hospitalized again, the rapid change in lifestyle, and the gradual decline of a decade-long friendship, I was already pretty depressed. It seemed like nothing could go right, but the one thing I had control over was pushing forward with real estate, so that’s what I did. It wasn’t until after I got my license, got set up at a brokerage, and actually started doing the job that I realized that the panic I had been feeling was only increasing. Each time I sat down to work, or signed myself up to do an open house, or took notes during a training course, my body felt paralyzed. My fight-or-flight mode was stuck on freeze. I could barely breathe. Still, I told myself to push through, ignoring my intuition and the physical messages my body was sending. I had already invested so much time and money, and the thought of quitting felt like admitting defeat. It seemed like after all that I had invested in the career, but such a short time actually being in the industry, that I would be letting myself and my fiancé down if I quit now.
Trying to overcome my anxiety, I turned to meditation. It was nearly impossible to quiet my mind, so guided meditations really helped me to have something to focus on while I worked to recalibrate my nervous system. This practice became the key that cleared the clutter of my circumstances and helped me see the truth: real estate was not my path. The day I decided to quit felt like having a car lifted off my chest. The relief was immediate and profound. I realized that the anxiety I had been feeling wasn’t just a symptom to be managed—it was a message that I needed to hear. The courage to tell my fiancé took a few days to muster, but she had always been incredibly supportive up to that point, and this was no different. She even told me she was proud of me for trying something new and for deciding to quit something that isn’t right for me.
Even before I made the decision to quit, I had started weaving my passions into my daily life, hoping to ease the tension. I had begun learning watercolor painting and attended a painting workshop in the city. I started delving into quantum biology and learned how the body is composed of quantum fields of energy that our consciousness has a significant effect on. Quitting real estate gave me the freedom to fully embrace these interests and rediscover ones that I had forgotten. I remembered that my desire to teach and help others had always been with me—from homeschooling my daughter to working as a massage therapist, where I helped clients release emotional tension. That thread of wanting to guide and support others ran through every chapter of my life.
Now, I meditate daily and have immersed myself in learning about movement, reconditioning my own body, and exploring the science of consciousness and energy. In addition to guiding others in meditation, breathwork and energy work, I am training to become a certified personal trainer, nutrition, and wellness coach. I’ve also found vibrant communities online where I can share my passions and continue to grow.
Quitting real estate wasn’t easy—it took a lot of courage to step away from something I’d invested so much in. But doing so taught me that I can do hard things and that I don’t have to stay in situations that bring me pain or stifle my joy. For anyone feeling stuck, I’d say this: it might be scary to quit and start something new, but staying stuck is much harder in the long run. The longer you ignore the signals your body is sending, the heavier and more painful it becomes. Deep down, you know your talents and passions. The only way to live a fulfilling life is to pursue them.
I really feel like my attempt at real estate needed to happen to show me where I truly belong. The courage to quit isn’t just about leaving something behind—it’s about making space for what genuinely lights you up. Listen to yourself. Trust your intuition. The freedom and momentum you gain are worth every ounce of courage it takes.
