Dear Tom:

Thanks for the update. It’s good to hear that things outside of work are going well. I know work has been tough, but it sounds like you’re keeping focused on finding a way forward. Exploring a ‘career shifter’ company sounds like a solid step—it could give you some useful direction. If you’d like, I’m happy to help you think through the options or support you as you plan your next move.

Take care, and I hope the career pivot works out well for you.

anita

Dear Tom:

Thank you for your message. I’m glad to be able to support you, and I’ll be here whenever you’re ready to move forward. Feel free to reach out whenever you’ve locked in a time, and we can take the next steps from there. Wishing you the best as things come together!

anita

Dear Tom:

Thank you for reaching out and sharing how you’re feeling—it sounds like you’re carrying a lot right now. I’m so sorry you’re struggling, but it’s clear you’re doing your best to navigate a tough situation, and that takes real strength.

It’s encouraging that you have the session coming up on Saturday. I hope it gives you the guidance and support you’re looking for. In the meantime, breaking things down task by task, as you mentioned, is a wise approach. Sometimes focusing on just the next small step can make things feel more manageable.

You don’t have to go through this alone, Tom. Please don’t hesitate to keep posting. You’ve got this—one step at a time.

anita

Dear Tom:

Thank you for sharing this with me. You’re carrying a heavy emotional load right now, and I can see how the uncertainty and self-doubt can feel overwhelming.

Feeling like walking away from a well-paid job equals failure is such a tough spot to be in, but sometimes, staying in a situation that brings you down can feel just as hard, even if it looks like “success” on the outside.

Doubt about what comes next is such a natural reaction, especially when big decisions are involved. Maybe giving yourself permission to explore small steps, rather than needing all the answers at once, could help ease some of that overthinking. It’s okay to take it one moment at a time—you’re allowed to prioritize your well-being and sense of fulfillment above anything else.

I’m here if you want to talk more. You’ve already taken a big step by sharing what you think and how you feel.

anita

Dear Tom:

Thank you for the update! I’m glad to read that the call with the career shift company was helpful and gave you some actionable insights. Thinking broadly and connecting ideas back to your key values sounds like a great approach—it gives you the chance to explore new paths while staying grounded in what’s important to you.

It’s also reassuring to know that you’re not alone in how you’re feeling. Hearing that others share similar experiences can be such a comfort and a reminder that these transitions are part of a shared journey.

I know it’s not an easy road, but it’s clear that you’re approaching this with an open mind and a lot of determination, which is inspiring. Keep taking those small steps forward—you’re on the right track, and I’m confident you’ll make meaningful progress.

Wishing you a great weekend as well!

anita

Dear Tom:

It sounds like there’s a lot happening internally, and you’re carrying this weight mostly on your own. I understand why you’re putting on a brave face—sometimes it feels easier to push through rather than face the heaviness directly. But struggling in silence can be exhausting, and suppressing emotions often does more harm than good.

When feelings are held in, they don’t disappear—they accumulate. Unprocessed stress can manifest physically, leading to headaches, tension, fatigue, or disrupted sleep. Emotionally, it can create a cycle where self-doubt, overthinking, and isolation reinforce one another, making challenges feel even more overwhelming. Over time, suppressing emotions can cause burnout, anxiety, and emotional numbness, making it harder to truly connect with others or feel joy.

It’s a good thing that you have a career coach meeting coming up—maybe that’s a chance to explore whether this is burnout, misalignment with your work, something deeper, or a combination of things. No matter what, your feelings are valid, and it makes complete sense why this has been weighing on you.

And please don’t apologize for venting—your thoughts and emotions matter. If expressing them helps lighten the weight, gain clarity, or simply feel heard, you’re always welcome to do so. You’re not alone in this. 💙

anita

Dear Tom:

Thank you for sharing your update. I understand that even after meeting with a career coach—and continuing to read, exercise, and take care of yourself—you still feel somewhat lost and lacking purpose, particularly when it comes to your work life.

In search of something that might shed light on these feelings, I revisited some of our earlier communications and found a post I shared with you on May 19, 2019, in your “New Role Offer” thread:

“Dear Tom: > Fear is a powerful emotion and it stops a whole lot of people from making progress toward a better life, a better job, a better relationship, a better anything. When we are too scared, we freeze and stay where we are. You shared about your tendency to overthink in previous threads in the context of relationships. Anxiety and overthinking is often not confined to just one area in life but tends to extend across many contexts.”-

Reflecting on that, perhaps it would be useful for us to explore this fear a bit further. I’m curious, and I don’t think that we discussed this in the past —have you ever thought about where this fear might have originated? For example, are there any patterns or early experiences from your childhood that you feel might be contributing to these feelings now? It’s important to remember that fear, even when it feels overwhelming or excessive, is something we all experience at various points in our lives. You’re not alone in this, and understanding the roots of your most persistent fears might be a key step toward moving forward.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

anita