You’ve Outgrown the Role. But Do You Know How to Leave?
What to do when you know your current job isn’t it, but you’re afraid to make a move
You know the role no longer fits.
You feel it in meetings.
You feel it in your energy.
You feel it when you’re quiet and honest with yourself.
You’re still doing the work.
You’re still showing up.
You’re still performing.
But you’ve already left: emotionally, mentally, sometimes even creatively.
The problem is:
You don’t know how to leave physically.
Or when.
Or what comes next.
So you stay. And the misfit gets heavier.
Why This Feels So Sticky
It’s not always about the job itself.
It’s about what it represents.
You’re not just leaving a role.
You’re walking away from effort, stability, recognition, and a version of yourself that worked hard to get here.
And that’s where most people get stuck.
Not in logistics. In loyalty.
Loyalty to what this role once meant.
Loyalty to the story you built around it.
Loyalty to other people’s expectations.
A Small Clarity Check-In
If this feels like where you are, sit with this:
What part of staying is tied to fear, not fit?
Fear of change? Fear of regret? Fear of disappointing someone?What are you telling yourself you "owe" this role (and is that true)?
Time? Gratitude? One more year?What would leaving actually cost you, and what might it free up?
Clarity isn’t about making the leap.
It’s about seeing the gap.
A Gentle Tool to Ground You
Try this framing:
Outgrown → Obligated → Option
Outgrown: What you’ve already mentally outgrown
Obligated: What’s keeping you tied to it (real or imagined)
Option: What one step might look like if you didn’t have to justify it to anyone
You don’t need to leap.
You just need to stop gaslighting your clarity.
What to carry into your week
You don’t need more proof that this isn’t the right role anymore.
You already have it.
Now is the part where you stop trying to make it make sense again.
And start making room for what’s next.
See you next Wednesday.
Devieka
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Love this POV—it’s ok to outgrow your work! Take your experiences as a win and move on to a place where you are more impactful and stimulated. Thanks for sharing your perspective!
I definitely feel this with some of my friendships right now. I want to make new connections. Thanks for sharing!