You’ve followed the plan—the one everyone said would lead to success and happiness. The prestigious job, the steady income, the accomplishments you’ve worked so hard for. But here’s the truth that’s hard to admit: the formula isn’t working for you. And deep down, you’re just not happy.
High-pressure professionals often have a core belief that success equals happiness. But when you realize the life you’ve built doesn’t feel as fulfilling as it should, it’s jarring. The structure that once seemed so secure starts to feel shaky at best, leaving little room for joy, spontaneity, or self-expression. The hardest part? Admitting to yourself that something needs to change.
This discomfort can feel overwhelming. You might try to push it aside, telling yourself to be grateful or to work harder. But the more you suppress it, the more it grows—turning into burnout, frustration, and a lingering sense that something’s missing. And because change feels risky, you stay stuck, repeating a life that no longer fits.
This week in therapy, a client said something that stuck with me: “I’ve built the life I thought I wanted, but I don’t feel like I’m living it—I feel like I’m trapped in it. I need to accept that I am not happy with the formula of my life. My friends think I am crazy to want to quit my well paid job, but I am just not happy right now and something needs to change.”
They described waking up every day with the same thought: “This isn’t what I want, but I can’t change it – not this month.” As we talked, it became clear that their unhappiness wasn’t failure—it was a sign they’d outgrown their current life and needed something new.
We worked on acknowledging these feelings without judgment. Together, we explored what they truly valued—creativity, curiosity, and self-knowledge—and we identified small, practical steps to start aligning their life with their values. Over time, they realized that changing the formula wasn’t a failure—it was an act of self-respect and courage.
If you’ve been forcing yourself to stick to a life that doesn’t feel right and avoiding using the word ‘burnout’ to describe how you feel, you can drop the fight. In my 1:1 online therapy sessions, we’ll help you understand what got you where you are, let go of what no longer serves you, and create a life that feels authentic and fulfilling to you.
