The Downfall of “I Have Arrived”
I truly thought I had arrived.
You know the feeling; when the accolades stack up, the title is shiny, the calendar is full, and everyone around you seems to validate your worth by your achievements. I had reached the top of my field. On paper, I had it all.
But then…I looked around. And I realized: I don’t want this.
The arrival wasn’t what I imagined. I thought fulfillment would be wrapped up in success, that all the striving would finally give me peace. But “arriving” was, in many ways, an illusion. Yes, it takes grit and drive to get there. Putting one foot in front of the other with relentless determination will get you far.
But when I arrived, it felt empty.
Beautiful from the outside but hollow within.
I came to see that my ascent wasn’t really for me. It was more about proving something:
See? I can do anything. I’m worthy. I’m enough.
But proving something and living in your truth are two very different things. So I made the boldest move of all:
I walked away.
I walked away from the titles, the accolades, the ladder I climbed so hard.
Not because I couldn’t handle it but because it didn’t serve my soul.
This wasn’t failure. This was freedom.
Because true success, I’ve learned, isn’t about arriving at some external destination. It’s about aligning with what lights you up on the inside. It’s about walking in truth, even if it means walking away.
So now, instead of “I have arrived,” I say: I am becoming.
And that feels so much more true to my soul!
Mindful Practices for Making Big Decisions
If you find yourself standing at the edge of a choice—especially one that challenges your identity, success, or comfort zone—here are a few practices to ground you in clarity:
🌿 Stillness Before Strategy
Take at least 10 minutes a day to sit in silence. No lists. No analyzing. Just observe your breath and your body. The nervous system will settle and in the stillness, clarity starts to speak.
🌿 Body Compass Check
Ask yourself: “How does this decision feel in my body?”
Tight jaw? Sinking gut? Or a sense of ease and expansion? Your body holds wisdom beyond logic. Learn to trust it.
🌿 Journal the Truth, Not the Performance
Ask:
What am I afraid will happen if I don’t choose this path?
Am I doing this to prove something—or because it deeply resonates with me?
If no one clapped for me, would I still choose this?
🌿 Visualize Both Paths
In a quiet moment, imagine your life one year from now if you say yes to the decision. Then do the same for a no. Which one feels more rooted, alive, and you?
🌿 Name Your Core Values
Come back to your personal non-negotiables. Does this decision align with them—or challenge them? When values lead, regret rarely follows.
🌿 Move Before You Decide
Take a mindful walk, stretch, or dance. Moving the body clears stagnant energy and unlocks inner clarity. Sometimes the body decides before the brain catches up.
🌿 Ritual Release
If you’re walking away from something big, create a small ritual: write a letter of goodbye, burn an old to-do list, or soak in a salt bath with intention. Honor what was. Clear space for what’s next.
The decision to walk away or shift direction isn’t always easy but it can be sacred. And when made with mindfulness, even the hardest choices become part of your rising.
