One Year Later: What Happened When I Chose Alignment Over Comfort

It has been one year since attending the Growth Day conference that ultimately shifted the direction of my life and career.

At that time, I was in a season of transition. I was approaching 40, reflecting deeply on the past decade, and quietly carrying a growing awareness that something in my life was no longer aligned. While I had accomplished a great deal professionally, I found myself increasingly disconnected from my work, from others, and from myself.

For nearly two years leading up to that conference, my journals told a consistent story. I repeatedly wrote about not liking how I was showing up, feeling a loss of passion, questioning my value, and recognizing a growing sense of detachment. I was becoming more isolated, more fatigued, and less connected to the parts of myself that once felt energized and present.

At the time, I could name the symptoms—burnout, exhaustion, lack of motivation—but it was not until I intentionally slowed down and reflected that I recognized the root issue: I was operating out of alignment with my values.

This realization was reinforced during a session at the conference focused on values-driven living and work. It was a pivotal moment. Not because it introduced a new concept—I regularly integrate values-based work into my clinical practice—but because it required me to confront the gap between what I believed and how I was actually living.

That awareness created both discomfort and clarity. It explained the level of depletion I had been experiencing across all areas of my life—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. At the same time, it reconnected me with what mattered: the type of work that felt meaningful, the way I wanted to show up, and the kind of life I wanted to build.

From that place of clarity, I made a decision. I committed to transitioning out of my 9–5 role and fully into private practice.

From Insight to Action

One of the most important aspects of that commitment was that it did not remain an idea. I created a clear and actionable plan.

I chose July 1st as the beginning of my transition period. I wrote that date on a sticky note and placed it where I would see it daily—a simple but effective way to maintain focus and accountability.

When that date arrived, I began taking consistent, practical steps toward building my practice. This included securing office space, expanding insurance panels, increasing marketing efforts, growing my caseload, and strengthening operational systems.

From an external perspective, this likely appeared as steady and intentional progress. Internally, however, the experience was far more complex.

There were periods of significant anxiety, moments of panic, and ongoing self-doubt. There were also tangible obstacles—such as delays in securing an office—that tested both my patience and my confidence.

As someone who has a natural inclination toward anxiety and a strong need for stability shaped by past experiences, this process required me to navigate a constant tension between fear and forward movement.

What allowed me to continue was not the absence of fear, but the presence of structure. I returned to the plan repeatedly. I focused on completing the next step, rather than trying to resolve the entirety of the transition at once.

It was not perfect or linear progress. It was consistent progress.

The Decision to Follow Through

As the transition progressed and I gained greater clarity around timelines, I identified October 1st as my official exit date.

Ultimately, I made the decision to submit my notice two weeks earlier than planned and allowed myself a brief period of rest before stepping fully into private practice. This was a significant shift in itself. In the past, I likely would have continued pushing forward without pause. Choosing to rest reflected a different mindset—one that prioritized sustainability and self-awareness.

Now, nearly six months into full-time private practice, I can say with confidence that the decision to follow through on that commitment has been one of the most impactful of my career.

I am building a practice that aligns with my values. I am engaging in work that feels meaningful. And I am showing up in a way that feels more consistent with who I am.

The Role of Environment in Growth

While personal reflection and action were critical components of this transition, it is equally important to acknowledge the role of environment.

Being in a space that encouraged reflection, challenged my thinking, and emphasized accountability played a significant role in moving me from insight to action. It is one thing to recognize misalignment; it is another to create and execute a plan for change.

Environments that promote both vulnerability and accountability create conditions for meaningful growth. They require individuals to move beyond awareness and into action, often in ways that feel uncomfortable but necessary.

In my experience, growth has consistently occurred when I have placed myself in spaces that challenge me—spaces that do not allow me to remain passive, but instead encourage intentional decision-making and follow-through.

The Importance of Reflection and Bold Action

A key takeaway from this past year is the importance of intentionally creating time for self-reflection.

Without that pause, it is easy to continue operating in patterns that feel familiar but are ultimately unsustainable. Reflection allows for increased self-awareness, and self-awareness creates the opportunity for alignment.

However, awareness alone is not sufficient.

There is a point at which reflection must be followed by action.

Taking bold action does not mean the absence of fear or uncertainty. In many cases, it involves moving forward in the presence of both. The period between making a decision and executing it can be uncomfortable and unpredictable.

In my own experience, that period felt more like a series of challenges than a smooth transition. However, it was also where the most significant growth occurred.

Looking Back—and Forward

During the conference, I wrote a note to myself:

“The past 10 years of my life I’ve accomplished so much. And this should be a reminder of how much I can do—and will do—in this next decade.”

Revisiting that reflection now, it serves as both a reminder and a confirmation.

We often overlook our own progress. We minimize what we have built and allow self-doubt or past experiences to shape our perception of what is possible.

Taking time to reflect on what has already been accomplished can be a powerful way to reframe that narrative.

Final Thoughts

The past year has reinforced a few key truths:

• Misalignment, when left unaddressed, will eventually lead to burnout
• Reflection is necessary for recognizing what needs to change
• Growth requires both clarity and action
• And meaningful change often begins with a decision to move forward before feeling fully ready

Choosing to transition into private practice was not a perfect or easy process. It required navigating uncertainty, managing fear, and remaining committed to a plan over time.

It also required choosing myself in a way I had not previously done.

That decision has made all the difference.