Issue #4 — What Got You Here Won’t Get You There

But years later, after burnout, after a health scare, after walking away from a version of success that no longer felt sustainable, I realized it wasn’t just about work.

It was about life.
It was about identity.
It was about outgrowing a version of myself that had been high-functioning, high-achieving, and quietly unraveling.

Because I was never just my career.
And “there” was never just a promotion.
It was peace. Joy. Wholeness. Purpose.

The Chameleon Years

There was a time I referred to myself as a chameleon.
I could read a room before I even stepped into it.
Adapt to any environment. Blend in. Make things smoother, quieter, easier for everyone else.

And for a while, I believed that was the key to success.
Shrink where necessary. Don’t make waves. Fit in first, speak later.

When I disagreed with something, or knew from experience it wouldn’t work, I’d often hold back. I’d “disagree and commit” because of the power dynamics at play. I knew that saying what I really thought could cost me.

So I chose peace. Or what looked like peace.
And the longer I played that role, the less I recognized myself.

There’s a quiet conflict that happens when you’re trying to grow a career, play the game, and still hold on to your values, your dignity, your truth.
You tell yourself it’s temporary. That you’re building something. That it’s part of earning your seat at the table.

But at what cost?

Because the truth is: burnout isn’t just about doing too much.
It’s also about doing too much of what goes against who you really are.
It’s what happens when you keep changing yourself to fit into spaces that don’t see or value you.
Burnout is the cost of shrinking, of staying silent, of constantly bending to keep the peace.

Letting Go Isn’t a Loss. It’s a Return.

Letting go of who I was isn’t a betrayal. It’s a return.
To purpose. To truth. To alignment.
It’s shedding the expectations that once kept me safe so I could finally grow in the direction of impact.

And that clarity? That sense of calling?
It gave me the courage to build something new.

And in that moment, letting go didn’t feel like a loss.
It felt like I was finally walking in my purpose.

Questions That Helped Me Let Go with Love

If you're in a season of unraveling or reinvention, here are a few prompts to explore:

• Where have I stayed small to avoid disrupting the comfort of others?
  

• What habits or roles once served me, but now hold me back?
  

• Who am I becoming, and what does that version of me need to thrive?
  

• What if letting go isn’t quitting, but creating space for something more aligned?

Let’s Keep This Glow Going

This space is for unlearning the roles you outgrew and remembering the truth of who you are.

If this issue resonated, hit reply. I’d love to hear what version of you you're ready to release and what you’re claiming in return.

Forward this to someone who’s been shape-shifting just to survive.

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Because when we evolve out loud, we remind others they’re not alone in the becoming.

Until next time, release with love and rise with intention.

With love and light,

LaShanda 💫