When Every Cell in Your Body Says “Don’t Do It”
It’s been a long time since I first heard Roya’s story. We met at a retreat, and I’ve thought about her journey ever since. We’ve DM’d and checked in with each other. She lives in Nothern Cali, in a place I visited often, in a town where I bought my first real adult couch. In an instant I felt I knew her work in human resources, her negotiating of roles, her complex love of collaborting and growing her self and her staff. I saw her connecting deeply at the retreat with friends and new friends.
Mostly, I saw her confidently laughing really really hard while stand up paddle boarding while I navigated a new cape cod lake, craving Lesser Evil Popcorn more than I wanted to paddle back from the downstream wind.
We attended the same retreat twice. I both worked as a Reiki and Wellness and Yogi and also particpated. In the swallows of the campfire, I knew deeply Roya understood mothering and work and living through work she hated. Seeing someone is different than knowing them.
Roya left a well-know company, with many facets, to start her own entreprenuerial journey. Her experience is one so many of us can relate to: sitting in interviews, knowing exactly what to say to land the job but feeling a deep, undeniable resistance.
This year, I asked Roya. “What caused your career pivot? Would you call your career shift—a leap or a shift?” Her reply was complicated but her, it feels like a leap.
Roya described it best: “Every cell in my being said, ‘Don’t do it!’”.
Dont take the job, don’t work for them, don’t look back, leap. Your body tells us a lot of information. That visceral knowing is something I’ve experienced, too—when your body recognizes what’s misaligned before your mind can fully process it.
Her story stuck with me, and though this story is LONG overdue, I wanted to share her Wisdom for anyone standing at the edge of a career pivot. Here are the key takeaways from Roya’s leap:
Listen to Your Body.
When every part of you is saying “no,” pay attention. It’s often the first sign that something isn’t right. Even as an HR exec, Roya noticed how often her gut, mind and body were rejecting a step she was about to take. Rather than taking the job and backtracking, sometimes staying put and making a plan is a better option. You know why you are staying put so it’s a short term sacrafice.Plan the Jump.
Roya and her husband took six months to organize their finances and prepare for what came next. Having a plan doesn’t eliminate fear, but it does provide stability. Most often, it takes longer than 6 months, but some very well organized executives can rally the family buy in easier than others. If it takes you one month or 5 years, start to talk about options.Be Honest About the Signs.
Roya realized work had become a battle rather than a collaboration. If your day-to-day feels like constant friction, it’s a sign to reevaluate. Each meeting can feel like a hurricane in a bad economic cycle, however, most colleagues should support you even if the business is dipping. When you notice everyone and everything feels misaligned, it’s time to pay attenion.Know Your Worth.
Sometimes, the quickest path to Growth is moving on. Roya reminded me that career advancement—both financially and professionally—often happens faster when you leave a company, rather than waiting for internal opportunities. This is the case of making a decision and sticking to it. If you have values and vision with a financial plan, you can create revenue in a new business with flow.It’s OK to Wait Until You’re Ready.
Even if the change feels overdue, don’t rush yourself. Give yourself permission to process, plan, and take the leap when the time is right.
Roya’s story is a reminder that career pivots aren’t about being impulsive—they’re about alignment. If something deep inside is telling you to shift, trust it. And remember: you’re never alone on the journey.
Here’s to listening, planning, and stepping into what’s next.
Roya can be found on her website or IG @de.st.roya for more inspo.
