It Looked Right Then. It Doesn’t Feel Right Now.

I’m going to say this a bit louder than usual, not because you need it but because I do and I need this really click this time.

You are not required to keep living a life you no longer want just because you once chose it.

And not that you need the permission, but let me say this so you can start to believe it:

You are allowed to change your mind.

About the relationship.
About the job.
About the city.
About the investment.
About the version of you that said yes in the first place.

And it does not mean it was a waste.

The moment we think something isn’t for us anymore, this thought creeps in:

“I just wasted so much time.”
“I can’t believe I spent that much money.”
“I put years into this.”
“I should just stick it out.”

We treat time, money, and effort like they’re receipts we need to justify.

If you decide it was a waste, then, that’s what it’ll be and who wants to hold that heavy weight?

And when you label something as wasted, you shut down your ability to extract anything useful from it.

Just because you invested into something does not mean it needs to, or should last forever.

If you invested:

• 2 hours

• 10 hours

• 1 year

• 5 years

• 10 years

• 20 years

• 3 dollars

• $20,000

…does not mean you owe it the rest of your life.

You are allowed to gather data and then decide differently.

You are allowed to try something on and realize it doesn’t fit.

You are allowed to evolve past the version of you that once wanted it.

And frankly, you should.

Even if you just shifted your perspective just slightly, it will change how you look at it.

“That was a waste” can now be “That taught me something.” Doesn’t that feel differently?

Because if you lead with regret, you carry shame. If you lead with learning, you carry wisdom.

You cannot take the lessons into your future if you’re busy resenting the past.

This can apply to anything:

Relationships.
Jobs.
Business ideas.
Degrees.
Courses.
Houses.
Friendships.

You can wake up one morning and realize: “This isn’t what I want anymore.”

And that realization is not failure, it’s awareness.

The only true waste would be staying somewhere because you already invested.

Also, you can decide at any time to change your mind but you can also decide not to.

The power is in knowing it’s your choice. What you learned still comes with you, and noone can take that from you.

Even if you leave, or if you decide to pivot and even if you decide to walk away after 20 years or after you invested $15,000 into something.

You learned:

• What you value

• What you tolerate

• What you won’t tolerate

• What drains you

• What lights you up

• What feels good on paper but not in your body

And that is more valuable than anything - if you can recognize it.

Whenever I’ve changed my mind on something or decided ‘this isn’t for me anymore’, I’ve learned over time to trust myself more and ask ‘does this still feel right?’ Staying usually is ‘the safe choice’, leaving is the uncomfortable but necessary one.

Because if it doesn’t ‘feel right’ amymore, the bravest thing you can do is tell the truth, even if it comes years after you first said yes.

This is growth and you should always be growing. Growth will always require you to outgrow something.

Where in your life are you staying simply because you already invested?

Be honest…

At what point does staying become more expensive than leaving?