From Burnout to Joy: A Year of Radical Pivoting and Coming Home to Myself

Thirteen months ago, I walked away from a life that looked good on paper. One that checked all the boxes, but left my soul starving.

I didn’t do it dramatically. I didn’t burn it all down in one night. But I did make a choice. One moment, one step, one decision at a time. And eventually, I found myself on a one-way ticket to Bali, not just in search of something new, but in search of me.

What followed was a year of unexpected clarity, messy transitions, countless lessons in self-trust, and perhaps the most courageous act of all: choosing joy in the face of burnout.

Burnout Wasn’t a Breakdown. It Was a Breakthrough.

You know that feeling when you wake up and think: Is this it? That was me, most mornings before I left. It wasn't depression. It wasn’t failure. It was misalignment.

Burnout isn’t just about being tired. It’s a signal. A siren from the soul. It says: This isn’t working anymore. Your system is ready for something new.

In my case, burnout showed up as a quiet erosion. My body was there, but my spirit had already started packing its bags.

And so, I listened. I booked a flight. I began to pivot.

Courage Doesn’t Always Roar. Sometimes It Whispers.

My year took me from Bali to Vietnam, to India. I didn’t have a master plan. What I had was curiosity, and just enough courage to follow it.

I faced fears I never thought I could meet. Navigated uncertainty and the discomfort of shedding identities I had outgrown. I unlearned the rules I used to live by and started rewriting my own.

Some days, I was radiant with purpose. Others, I questioned everything. But each morning, I got up and met myself- wherever I was.

That, to me, is what courage really looks like.

The Gift of Problem-Solving Through Pivoting

When you’re burned out, it can feel like you’re stuck. But you’re not stuck. You’re paused. And in that pause is power.

The truth is: most people don’t need a complete life overhaul. What they need is one small pivot. A moment of honesty. A change of pace. A new perspective. A brave conversation.

Burnout doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means your current strategy is no longer aligned with your deeper needs.

So if you're in that place now, let me offer you this: burnout is an invitation. To reimagine. Rebuild. Reclaim.

Ask yourself: what would one joyful step look like today?

Could you:

• Say no to something that drains you?

• Say yes to something that excites you?

• Take a walk without your phone?

• Spend time with someone who sees the real you?

• Sit in silence for five minutes and just listen?

Every pivot begins with a pause. Every revolution starts with one small rebellion against numbness.

This Journey Changed Me

Last year, I rode a scooter for the first time. I taught Reiki trainings & run seminars. I meditated more than I ever have. I met brave, beautiful, kindred spirits who inspired me with their boldness and perspectives on life. I travelled solo ( for some parts of my journey) and fell in love with my own company. I reconnected with simplicity, with devotion, with who I am beneath all the striving.

I softened. I laughed more. I let go. And most of all, I remembered who I came here to be.

Your Joy Is Worth It

You don’t need a plane ticket to change your life. You just need presence, honesty, and the willingness to start.

If you're feeling that internal tension - that quiet knowing that something's off, I invite you

to trust it.

Because of the clash between our dreams and our present reality, there are many moments in which we are faced with conflict and disillusionment. One way or another, we are all being challenged to acknowledge our confusion, to locate our emerging truth, and to live by it.

If burnout is the form that this challenge to live truthfully takes in your life, then beginning to burnout is exactly the right incentive to help you take your next step toward joy.

Does bringing more joy in your life feel important enough to do something about it?

If the answer is yes, then start by asking: What is one little change I can make today?

Because a journey toward change begins with the first step.

And if you're unsure how to take that step, just ask yourself: What is the cost of staying where I am?

A month from now. A year from now. Five years from now.

Ready to Begin?

If this spoke to you, and you're ready to explore your next chapter, I invite you to join my Courageous Career Coaching Program—a space designed for women who are ready to pivot, reclaim joy, and build a career and life aligned with their true selves.

We start soon. Number of spots limited.

Let’s walk this journey together.

Apply to work with me