Has anyone else had to leave a job they were grateful for but couldn’t handle anymore?
I feel like no one really talks about this part of your 20s, and I've been thinking about it a lot lately.
The part where you outgrow something that also built you.
I spent the last 6 1/2 years in a job that shaped so much of who I am. It gave me financial stability, real experience, and helped me figure out that I’m actually good at accounting. It’s the reason I’m able to take the next step I’m about to take.
But it also showed me what doesn’t work for me.
There was a point where the stress started showing up physically. I began having panic attacks. I was overwhelmed, falling behind, and instead of being met with support, I went through a situation where my integrity was questioned. Eventually, it was cleared up, and support was offered, but something in me had already shifted.
Even after things calmed down, my body didn’t forget.
About a year later, I was confronted again, this time in a way that felt hostile, and something in me just… stopped.
It wasn’t dramatic. It wasn’t a breakdown.
It was clarity.
My mind and body finally said, “this is enough.”
And the next day, I turned in my resignation.
For a long time, I thought this was just what I had to do. It was “good for my career.” I was learning. I was responsible. I was trusted, at least in some ways.
I told myself that should be enough.
So I ignored the voice that kept telling me I was struggling. That I was carrying too much with too little support. That going years without real rest, without backup, without space to breathe, wasn’t sustainable.
I kept pushing past what I actually needed.
Until I couldn’t anymore.
And when I finally stopped long enough to listen, I realized something simple but important:
There are environments where you can grow and still feel supported.
Where you can excel without constantly feeling like you’re barely holding everything together.
So I chose something different.
I chose to go back to school.
I chose to find a role that supports me while I learn and grow.
I chose to believe that I don’t have to sacrifice my well-being to build a career.
And I’ve also had to make peace with this:
I wasn’t perfect. I made mistakes, like anyone does.
But I showed up for years. I carried more than I should have.
And I did it well most of the time.
In the end, I finally chose myself.
I don’t have everything figured out. I’m still learning.
But I do know this now:
You’re allowed to choose environments that don’t make you feel sick.
You’re allowed to change direction.
You’re allowed to take what something gave you and still decide it’s not where you’re meant to stay.
If you’re in your 20s and feeling lost, stuck, or like you’re supposed to just “deal with it”… you’re not alone.
And it’s okay if your next step is just choosing something that feels a little bit better.
I’m stepping into something new, and for the first time in a while, I feel hopeful.