Leaving is one thing. But what nobody warns you about is what happens after you leave.

In Episode 1, I shared why walking away from a job doesn’t always come with struggle or drama—it can be peaceful, even freeing, when it’s truly time. But in this episode, I want to talk about something even more vulnerable: starting over.

Because starting over? That’s the part that shook me.

Quitting Was the Easy Part

Williams Sonoma Inc gave me opportunities, growth, and challenges I didn’t see coming. But it also gave me clarity—clarity about what I didn’t want to keep doing. When the time came, quitting wasn’t filled with chaos or conflict. It was a quiet decision rooted in alignment.

But once the email was sent, the goodbyes were said, and the equipment was returned… silence hit.

The Silence After the Storm

There’s a certain type of silence that follows a bold decision. Not everyone talks about it. It’s the quiet where the doubts creep in. The “what now?” moments that feel louder than the 9-to-5 you just walked away from.

Suddenly, I was no longer clocking in. I wasn’t checking the same inbox or reporting to the same meetings. My calendar opened up—and so did my fears.

Starting Over Feels Like Grief

You don’t just walk away from a job—you walk away from routine, from familiarity, from a version of yourself that once found safety there. That’s a kind of grief no one prepares you for.

Even if the job didn’t serve you anymore, it held space in your life. It gave you structure, stability, even identity. So when it’s gone? You feel the absence.

And if you’re anything like me, you wonder:

Did I make the right choice?

What does success look like now?

How long will it take to rebuild?

The Truth? Starting Over Is Supposed to Be Scary

You’re not weak because you’re scared. You’re not behind because you don’t have all the answers yet. Starting over is uncomfortable because it’s new ground. It’s wild and wide open. And that’s where possibility lives.

I had to remind myself that courage doesn’t mean the fear disappears. It just means you move anyway.

What I’m Learning in Real Time

Since leaving Williams Sonoma, here’s what I’ve been sitting with:

It’s okay not to rush. Clarity comes in pieces, not lightning bolts.

You don’t have to “prove” your decision was right. Living in alignment is the proof.

There’s power in reimagining your future. You don’t have to rebuild the old version of success. You can design something entirely new.

To Anyone Who’s Just Left a Job…

I see you. I get it. The world may congratulate you for being brave, but not everyone understands the emotional weight of beginning again. If you’re feeling fear, doubt, or grief—it’s okay. You’re not broken. You’re just in the middle of your becoming.

What’s Next?

That’s the question I’m still answering. But I know this:

I didn’t leave safety for chaos—I left for freedom. And every day, I’m learning how to make peace with the unknown.

Stay tuned for Episode 3, where I’ll dive into the practical side of starting over: finances, identity shifts, and building a life that doesn’t fit anyone else’s mold but mine.

Until then, remember:

Leaving can be easy, but becoming takes work—and you’re worthy of every step.

Join us weekly for raw talks, interviews, and insights that inspire you to stay grounded in who you are—and where you come from.

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Rooted in Harmony,

Aiysha

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