Rewriting the Route

How to Realign After Following a Path That Leaves You Empty

Have you ever stood at a fork in the road, made your choice with full conviction, believing you were taking the right path—only to find it unbearably hard and, in the end, empty of both results and meaning?

Sometimes we make choices in life that don’t reflect our current desires, hoping the results might eventually meet a need. Some choices, especially those that aren’t fully aligned with our truth, who we are, or who we’re becoming—end up leading us somewhere we never intended to go. For some, it might look like taking on a job or career that doesn’t quite fit or spark any passion. For others, it might be something as simple as smiling when you really don’t feel like it.

The beautiful thing about making these unfavorable choices is that they often lead us to new beginnings. As the sun rises each day, so do you if you so choose.

It definitely sounds easier than it is. Some choices come with lasting consequences and can leave you stuck in situations that feel off and aren’t easy to walk away from. You can spend hours unpacking how it all went wrong; why the choice that felt right ended up disappointing you in the end.

The truth is, even choices that were perfectly aligned at a time can still lead to undesirable outcomes. That’s just life. Not much is permanent, and we should always be in a process of re-evaluating, checking in with ourselves to make sure we’re still moving toward what feels like peace. Choices shouldn't feel like burdens—having the freedom to choose is a beautiful thing, even if the outcomes aren't always perfect.

Time is all we really have, use and wind it wisely to shape the results you crave. Allow life to unfold naturally, and don’t take it so seriously that the very freedom to choose starts to feel like a burden.

Embrace the freedom of choice itself.

Keep making new ones. Keep checking in. Stay present. Never stop wanting better for yourself and the ones you love.

Starting over after a failed attempt at whatever it may have been, is a hardship journey most have to walk at some point. It wakes up something primal in us—a quiet fear of death, of complete loss. Give yourself space to grieve, but don’t stop the dance; keep moving toward the life you want, making choices that feel more like home with each step.

Breathe. Let go and find a new rhythm.

Work and career life takes up a huge part of life for most people; it demands our time, energy, and presence. This is one of those choices in life where many people tend to get a little stuck in loops. Because accepting that all that time might not have been worth the numbers on a paycheck is never easy.

Work should give you value back in return— more than just money.

It’s naive to say everyone can love their job, because that’s not everyone’s reality. But your work should align with what you value in life. You should, at the very least, enjoy the company of the people you spend most of your working hours with.

Make choices that are worth your time, especially in your career.

1. Start at the beginning. Evaluate yourself. What skills do you have? What can you genuinely offer? → Know your value. Understanding what you bring to the table is the foundation of making choices worth your time.
   

2. Examine your beliefs around making money. Do you carry preconceived ideas or morals about what an “honourable” way to earn a living looks like? → Money stories shape our decisions. Get clear on what feels ethical and true for you.
   

3. Do you like working for a company, for yourself, or as part of a team? → Your ideal structure matters. Some thrive in independence, others in collaboration. Honour what suits your nature.
   

4. What do you actually value enough to invest your time in? What matters most to you in life is probably your biggest clue toward a fulfilling career. → Your core values are your compass. Let them guide your work life.
   

5. Have fun. Life, above all else, is meant to be enjoyed. → Joy is not optional—it’s fuel. Don’t forget to enjoy and create it, even in your work.

And finally…

You don’t need to have it all figured out. You’re allowed to change direction, pause, and even backtrack. That doesn’t mean you’ve failed—it means you’re human and paying attention. The more you return to yourself, the more honest your path becomes. Let your mistakes be teachers. Let your intuition speak louder next time. You’re not stuck. You’re shifting. That’s growth. That’s life. Keep going.