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Ever catch yourself resisting an easier path because you've tied your identity to the struggle? That's exactly where I found myself while contemplating a career change from emergency nursing to school nursing.

The decision seemed obvious—trading 12-hour high-stress hospital shifts for a schedule aligned with my children's school day. Yet I agonized over what this meant for my identity. "Am I still a legitimate nurse if I'm not working in a hospital?" This question haunted me until two wise women in my life asked why I was fighting the ease being offered to me.

Their question stopped me in my tracks, especially since one of my own guiding questions for finding purpose has always been: "How can this be easy?" The irony wasn't lost on me—I'd been resisting my own advice. We've created a culture that glorifies being busy and burnt out, wearing exhaustion like a badge of honor. But science confirms what our bodies already know: prolonged stress impairs decision-making and emotional regulation. Studies show that when we're exhausted, we're less likely to use our recovery time well, creating a downward spiral.

This fall, I'm choosing ease. Not because I'm giving up or because I don't love emergency nursing, but because I'm honoring what serves me and my family in this season. The compassion that makes me a good nurse doesn't disappear when I change settings—it's who I am, not what I do.

Where in your life are you fighting the ease? What might you let go of to create more space for rest, creativity, and emotional resilience? Sometimes the bravest choice is giving yourself permission for things to be a little easier.

Text BESTLIFE to 833-681-6463 for Lauren's weekly dose of motivation.

Find more at: https://www.youtube.com/@LaurenChapnick

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