The Moment I Finally Quit My Job: Choosing Growth Over Fear
Today, I want to share the final straw that led me to quit my full-time job.
Recognizing the Misalignment
Back in February 2024, I was working at an agency as a therapist. I already knew the environment wasn’t for me. I had burned out once before, and the population I was serving, along with the structures in place, didn’t align with the kind of work or life I wanted.
At the time, I had started my private practice on the side, slowly growing it. I had told myself I wanted a waitlist of clients before leaving my full-time job—it seemed like the financially responsible thing to do.
My husband, on the other hand, said, “Émilie, just quit. I’d rather you make less money and build your business slowly, but in the way you want.”
We had enough savings to make that possible. But I hesitated. I stayed because of fear: fear of failing in my private practice, fear of letting people down at the agency, fear of not having enough money. I was making decisions based on scarcity and security, not alignment.
The Moment Everything Changed
One evening, around 6:30 PM, I was alone in the office. Everyone else had gone home. I glanced at the clock and thought, “Another day I don’t get to have dinner with my husband or put my daughter to bed.”
My daughter was a year and a half old, and family is one of my core values. In that moment, I felt anger, shame, and regret. I realized: I wasn’t staying at the job because it was smart. I was staying out of fear.
That was the moment I knew I had to act. If I waited, the strong emotions would fade, and I’d rationalize my fear again.
So, I did what I usually do when I need a cheerleader—I called my younger brother, Nikolas.
“I’m doing it. I’m quitting,” I told him.
“Do it! Go for it! Woo, woo, woo!” he cheered.
And I did it. I sent my resignation letter.
The Relief of Letting Go
After sending it, a wave of calm washed over me. My body had been tense for so long, and suddenly, I felt relief. I was proud of myself for making a growth-based decision instead of a fear-based one.
I was terrified of what came next, but I knew that even if my private practice didn’t work out, failing would teach me something valuable. That was preferable to staying somewhere that made me miserable.
Fear-Based vs. Growth-Based Decisions
Looking back, I realized I had always made choices out of fear or necessity. Fear kept me in jobs that didn’t fit. Necessity made me jump to the next available option just to survive.
Now, I make decisions differently. I ask myself:
Is this a fear-based choice or a growth-based choice?
Is this going to help me explore my creativity, my interests, or my passions?
Or am I doing it because I’m scared of not having enough?
For example, when I started building my private practice, I resisted taking extra training just because it might attract more clients. That would have been fear-based. Instead, I stayed aligned with who I am as a therapist—and the clients I now have reflect that alignment beautifully.
The Importance of Reflection
I’m not telling you to quit your job. That’s not the point. What I want you to do is start reflecting.
Ask yourself:
Do I enjoy what I’m doing?
Am I aligned with my values in this work?
Is my current path supporting the life I want to live?
Change is scary. But staying in a job that drains you of joy, family time, and energy for what matters most is scarier.
A Gentle Invitation
If anything in my story resonates with you, I encourage you to pause and reflect on your own work and life. Notice where fear might be guiding your decisions—and where growth might be waiting if you take a small, intentional step.
Share your thoughts in the comments, or simply journal about it for yourself. The more we reflect, the more we can create a life aligned with what truly matters to us.
Watch the full video version of this blog here: The FINAL Straw that Made Me QUIT My Job