I Quit My Job and Moved to Hawaii: The Honest Truth Behind Making Big Changes

Written July 18, 2024

Ahhh, I did it—I took the leap of faith! I quit my job, moved out of my apartment, packed a couple of bags, and brought my dog along to embark on a new journey. For the foreseeable future, I’ll be living as a nomad, chasing my dream of building a coaching business. This wasn’t an impulsive decision, though. I spent a full year planning—from envisioning my future to executing the final steps.

Let me set the scene: It was May 2023, and I found myself at a crossroads in my corporate career, grappling with a big decision while vacationing in Kauai. During savasana in a yoga class, surrounded by the island’s beautiful flow and tropical air, the Universe whispered that I needed to make a decision that would bring me back to this paradise. I dreamed of freedom—the autonomy to dictate my career and structure my days however I pleased. For years, I had felt the pull to leave corporate America and become a life coach, but I never felt “ready” or “good enough.” But in that moment, something shifted. I committed to giving myself a year to save money, complete my coaching certification, and make big moves. By June 2024, I had quit my corporate job and relocated to Kauai, with plans to continue onward to South East Asia.

The year leading up to June 2024 was filled with excitement, anticipation, and visions of paradise, freedom, a new career, and a newly expanded self. However, when I arrived in Hawaii, I quickly realized that while this move was a dream come true, it didn’t magically resolve my lingering inner doubts or negative self-talk.

I expected to hit the ground running, bypassing the awkward transition of moving to a new place. I thought I’d quickly settle into a routine, find new hangout spots, and build a community of friends, just like I had at home. Instead, I’m encountering triggers and self-limiting beliefs more intensely than I have in a long time. The pressure I’m placing on myself to settle in, make friends, launch my business, and dive into adventures is overwhelming. I feel this urgent need to accomplish everything I’ve envisioned and immediately embody my ideal self… and I’ve only been here a few weeks. I definitely know how to set way too high of expectations on myself (LOL).

The pressure and constant negative self-talk were suffocating. I began questioning whether I had made a mistake, wondering if I should return to my old life, even though it was completely unfulfilling. My energy was chaotic, and my intuition to slow down clashed with my ego’s push to make things happen fast. Then, I got sick—definitely from the stress I was putting on myself—and had to spend a week on the couch. Strangely, being sick turned out to be a blessing in disguise. It forced me to stop, slow down, and rest. During this forced pause, I was able to quiet my mind and reflect on the harmful inner dialogue I’d been battling.

I slept (a lot!), journaled, practiced intentional breathing, and finally picked up The Inner Work—a book I’d bought ages ago but never had time to read. This downtime helped recalibrate my mindset and shift my internal dialogue.

Major transitions take time. Transformation doesn’t happen overnight. Let me say that again (just to make sure it sinks in!)—transformation doesn’t happen overnight. This expectation had been setting me up for failure. It’s about embracing every win, no matter how small, and infusing love into each step of the journey. I’m choosing to follow my intuition’s whispers over the pressure of my ego-mind. From this chaos, my new primary intention bloomed: to fall deeply in love with myself. Whenever “shoulds” crept into my mind, I asked myself, “Will this action help me fall deeply in love with my true self?”

Side note: Synchronistically, my illness and the long-overdue book turned out to be catalysts, reshaping my vision for my coaching program and how I want to support women on their own journeys.

When life gets tough, I draw strength from my past and remind myself of how I’ve overcome challenges before. Like when I transitioned from working remotely with a small team to an in-office environment filled with incredibly talented, outgoing young women. That shift challenged many of my insecurities, and plenty of nasty thoughts arose. But it was through these triggers that I had to learn to understand myself better and heal. On my last day at the company, two and a half years later, I had a session with my therapist and cried tears of pride for the growth I had achieved. Though the company no longer aligned with my goals, I have deep appreciation for it and the people I met there.

Now, as I navigate this new chapter, I see triggers as part of the journey, not signs of failure. Self-actualization is a spiral, not a straight line. I trust myself to acknowledge my triggers, pause, and choose more empowering narratives. Negative thoughts will always arise, but I remain committed to self-compassion and optimism. Even on tough days (and I still have many), I remind myself that progress is ongoing. Every step, even those that feel like setbacks, is contributing to my growth.

Change often leads to profound transformation, but it’s rarely easy. Growth can be uncomfortable. But as they say, “Everything you’ve ever wanted is one step outside your comfort zone.” Embracing this truth keeps me resilient and hopeful as I continue on my path.

I write this as a reminder to my fellow women making brave and aligned changes—triggers and self-doubt will inevitably arise. Be gentle with yourself and allow transitions to unfold at their own pace. When you step into something new, your brain may feel threatened and try to pull you back into what feels “safe.” Take good care of yourself while your mind catches up. And don’t let a good trigger go to waste. Be compassionate and curious with yourself as you navigate this growth. Celebrate your incredible wins, knowing that with every step outside your comfort zone, you’re moving closer to the woman you’re becoming.

With love and light 💫

Syd