How to Give Yourself Permission to Want Something Different in Work and Life
Breaking Free from Conventional Ideas of Success to Build a Life on Your Terms
You’re climbing the ladder, hitting the milestones, following the rules, and achieving everything that will bring fulfillment.
But in the quiet moments, there’s a growing sense that this isn’t it. Something else is calling, but the path forward isn’t clear.
You’re not alone. In a world that measures worth by output, it’s easy to get caught up in someone else’s version of success.
But the truth is, you’re allowed to want something different. Something uniquely yours.
Why Conventional Success Often Feels Empty
Most of us are sold a single path to success: work hard, achieve more, and climb higher.
It promises meaning, worth, and happiness—just one more milestone and you’ll feel complete. But each time you get close, fulfillment slips away, pulling you back into the endless cycle of “more.”
The truth? This version of success was never built to fulfill you.
It’s a system that relies on scarcity and productivity to keep you wanting more.
It's a structure that sacrifices presence for progress and teaches you to measure your worth by your output.
And in the process, you start to lose sight of what really matters: you.
If you’re feeling that discontent, even after reaching career highs, it’s not failure. It’s a signal—a call to explore a different path, one where you define success on your terms.
When ‘Success’ Doesn’t Feel Like Success
Conventional wisdom says, “Grind it out, climb the ladder, and maybe—just maybe—you’ll find fulfillment at the top.
But think back. When was the last time you felt genuinely fulfilled? Was it because of a career achievement, or was it something else?
A quiet evening with no pressure to perform
Time spent creating, just for the love of it
Moments with people who ground and inspire you
These moments are real signals. It’s okay to admit that your priorities have shifted and that the finish line you’re racing toward doesn’t resonate anymore.
Maybe the version of success you’ve been chasing isn’t your success. Maybe it’s time to consider what a meaningful, fulfilling life looks like for you.
We’re taught to see deviation as failure and questioning our path as giving up.
But here’s the truth: Questioning isn’t quitting. It’s growth.
Giving Yourself Permission to Change Course
Wanting something different isn’t failure. It’s honesty. It’s growth.
It means you’re questioning outdated ideas of success, making room for what matters.
Giving yourself permission to step back and say, “I want something else” is powerful.
It allows you to release expectations that no longer serve you and pursue a version of success that truly aligns with who you are.
Consider what life could look like if success meant more than career achievement:
Work that aligns with your values, not just your ambition
Days balanced with purpose and presence
Time set aside for growth, relationships, and rest
What if “winning” looked like thriving in all parts of life, not just what fits into a job description?
You Don’t Need Approval to Start
So often, we hold back because we think we need approval—to be validated in our choices, to feel assured that we’re 'doing it right'.
You don’t have to wait for someone else to tell you it’s okay to redefine success.
The only permission you need is your own.
Imagine a life where success doesn’t mean depletion but synergy—a rhythm of work and life that includes rest, reflection, and a purpose that aligns with you.
Challenge for the Week
Take a step back from the grind and ask yourself:
What do I truly want? Let go of what you think you “should” want and get specific.
What’s one step I can take this week toward a life aligned with my values?
Am I willing to give myself permission to explore this new path?
Because if you’re ready for something different, it’s time to give yourself permission to go after it.