Something that I read on social media and hear people expressing in one way or another: “I feel stuck.” Stuck in a job, stuck in a relationship, stuck in a life that feels small or joyless. And while I have empathy for those feelings, I also need to be real with you, you are never truly stuck. You are always one choice, one decision, one act of courage away from changing your circumstances. That doesn’t mean it will be easy. It doesn’t mean you won’t face challenges. But the belief that you don’t have power is a lie… one that’s keeping too many people trapped in lives they don’t even want.

As adults, we always have the power of choice. You can choose to walk away from things that no longer align. You can choose to pursue things that light you up. That doesn’t guarantee smooth sailing, though. Often times those choices mean sacrifices. They may mean giving up comfort, security, or even people you’ve grown attached to. But staying in misery simply because it’s familiar is not the answer. Choosing nothing is still a choice, a choice to stay stuck.

The truth is, most people aren’t powerless; they’re just afraid to use their power. Why? Because change is uncomfortable. It requires effort. It shakes us out of our comfort zones and forces us to face the unknown. So instead of making the hard decision, we cling to things that look safe on the outside but are actually costing us our well-being.

I’ve seen it everywhere. Women stay in toxic or abusive relationships because they don’t want to leave their pets, or because they finally found the perfect house, their partners income makes bills easier to meet or because their partner pays for certain luxuries. (Even though those things come with a price of their abusers choosing.) Are these things worth it and more important than true happiness or in some circumstances your life? People stay at jobs they hate because they’ve been convinced their skills won’t transfer, or they’ve been there “too long” to walk away, or they fear missing their work friends. I’ve even heard people say, “Well, hating your job is just normal. Everyone does.” Really? That’s the standard we’re willing to live by? How does this make any kind of sense?

I know this firsthand because I lived it myself. I left a 20 year marriage and only took my clothes and family heirlooms and left my 17 yr old son and one dog with my ex. I navigated life with no vehicle, one income, and paying rent on my own for the first time in my life at 40. I worked for a school district for 15 years, convincing myself that the good I was doing for kids made up for the toll it was taking on my mental and emotional health. But the truth was undeniable: the damage I was doing to myself outweighed the difference I was making. When I finally decided that the 2020–2021 school year would be my last, no matter what, something shifted. The moment I opened myself up to the idea that something better was waiting for me, the Universe began matching my energy and sending opportunities my way.

Thoughts have power. If you believe you’re stuck, you are. But when you believe you can change, doors begin to open. With an early retirement compensation check, my 401K, and my pension, along with income my husband earned from a museum purchasing one of his images and him cashing out his own retirement, we made a leap into a completely different life: full-time RV living in Arizona.

The sacrifices were real. We ended every subscription and streaming service. We parted with over 40 years’ worth of belongings either donated, given away, or left behind. Lifelong friends were confused, and some even cut ties as they just felt this to be so irresponsible and drastic. I left my son two states away and haven’t seen him in person for three years. I’d never lived anywhere else, and moving to a new state was scary. No more long, luxurious showers, and personal space in an RV is limited.

But what I gained? Absolutely priceless. Wonder at seeing new places and living in a constant state of discovery. Peace from having fewer in-person connections pulling me into unnecessary drama. Space to finally embrace my gifts and skills as my work, instead of squeezing them in around a job that drained me. A healthier relationship with my son, who finally had room to grow without me hovering over his every decision. Physical and mental health through year-round hiking and outdoor living. The grounding energy of returning to my birth state. Freedom to wake up naturally before sunrise and start my day inspired, instead of dreading the alarm clock.

I chose the discomfort of change over the pain of staying the same, and it gave me back my life. Much of that discomfort was very temporary and to be honest, some things I had forgotten about now being 3 yrs in. As we settled we chose certain subscriptions to begin again such as one streaming service, vitamin subscription, and my husbands editing programs. (Yes, he gave up a VERY pivotal tool for his passion and replaced it with a “work around” in order to accomplish our dream.) In no time, we were living a totally different life with less stuff and more peace than we even imagined.

So let me ask you this: where are you giving your power away? Where are you pretending you’re stuck when really you’re just avoiding the hard choice? What are you clinging to that’s costing you your happiness? Where does the shit you deal with actually make the misery you feel worth it? Where are you choosing society norms that are causing you to live a life that is not aligned and feels like crap?

You already have the power in your hands. Always have, always will. Stop waiting for someone else to save you. Stop confusing comfort with safety. Stop settling for a life that doesn’t inspire you. You are one choice away from rewriting your entire story…but only if you’re willing to step up and use the power you already have.

Donations are the perfect way to show your appreciation to creators such as myself. If this post or any of my others have caused you to stop and think, change your mindset, or just give you hope for a life better than you live…I have 100% accomplished my goal and my heart is full! If my full heart doesn’t seem like enough, feel free to donate below and add to my coffee love or a treat for my sweet doggo who has lived these changes with my husband and myself. Thank you in advance as when these donations happen I know you hare giving up something to give to me and my appreciation can’t even fully be expressed.