Staying Stuck Is a Decision, Are You Willing to Keep Making It?
Not knowing what else is possible, fear of financial security, and self-doubt keep so many women stuck.
But what if staying stuck is costing you more than change?
When it comes to work, we convince ourselves that staying put is the safe option, that avoiding a big decision means we’re keeping things stable.
But the truth is, not making a decision is still a decision. Ouch! Staying where you are, even when it no longer serves you, is an active choice. And that choice comes with consequences, some visible, some hidden.
For women in midlife, this decision feels even heavier. After decades of building careers, raising families, and showing up for everyone else, we find ourselves asking:
“Is this really it? Is this all there is?”
I know I did. But between perimenopause, raising children, supporting aging parents, managing work, and carrying the emotional load of a household, it feels impossible to even think about change. There’s no mental, emotional, or physical capacity to take on something new.
But what if we started with curiosity instead of fear?
What if tiny stepsled to something bigger? What if midlife, instead of feeling like a crisis, became an opportunity, a chance to reject what’s no longer serving us and design something better?
What if, on the other side of that first step, there was more joy, more energy, better sleep, and a life that actually felt fulfilling?
If you’ve been feeling stuck in work, life, or any situation that no longer fits, it’s time to question why, and what it’s costing you.
The 3 Main Reasons We Stay Stuck?
Change is uncomfortable, and our brains are wired to resist it. But for women in midlife, the fear of change is often compounded by years of conditioning, to be the reliable one, the responsible one, the one who holds everything together.
We aren’t the “one company for life” generation, but we’re also not the three-month-a-job generation either. Many of us entered the workforce during the “recession we had to have.” We grew up hearing that a job was security, and we should be grateful for having one.
But here's the truth: Staying where you are isn't neutral. It has a cost.
So why do we stay?
1. Fear of the Unknown
“What if I make the wrong choice? What if I fail?”
For many midlife women, work has been a source of identity and stability for many midlife women. The thought of leaving something familiar, even if it’s unfulfilling, feels too risky.
But here's the truth: Staying doesn’t remove risk, it just guarantees more of the same.
What if the real risk is not making a change?
2. I Don’t Believe I Have Options
“What else could I possibly do?”
Women in midlife often underestimate their own value. Years of being in environments where we’ve had to work harder to prove ourselves, downplay our success, and accept being overlooked take a toll.
But here's what's true:
- You are not starting from scratch, you are starting from experience.
- Your skills are more transferable than you think.
- Confidence doesn’t come from waiting, it comes from taking action.
3. The Real Fear: Walking Away From Security
“What if I can’t replace my income?”
For women who’ve spent years, decades, building a career, the thought of starting over feels like too much to risk.
- We fear losing financial security.
- We fear walking away from decades of work.
- We fear that we’re “too late” to make a big change.
What if the real loss is not using your experience, wisdom, and strengths to create something that truly fulfills you?
It All Seems So Hard, So We Do Nothing....
But What If You Took Just One Step?
When we think about making a change, we see the whole mountain, the uncertainty, the steps we don’t yet know, the obstacles that might arise.
But what if we start with a smaller step?
Instead of thinking of the daunting task, “I need to update my CV,” what if you asked, “What do I actually want work to look like?”
- What would make work feel fulfilling, energising, and aligned with who you are today?
- You just have to start with curiosity.
What You Can Do Right Now to Break Free
The key isn’t overhauling your life overnight. It’s about taking one step. Just one. Here's where to start
1. Stop Trying to See the Whole Path, Just Take One Step
Instead of asking, “What’s my next career move?” → Ask, “What do I want work to feel like?”
2. Shift from ‘What If I Fail?’ to ‘What If I Succeed?
Reframe fear by focusing on opportunities, not just risks.
3. Take the First Step Today
Take the quiz “Where Do I Start? Identifying What’s Keeping You Stuck” to gain clarity on what to do next.
What If You Chose Change Instead?
- What if you trusted yourself to make a move, before you feel fully ready?
- What if you made a small shift today that led to something bigger tomorrow?
You don’t have to leap, just take one step.
What’s one small step you can take today?
Drop a comment, I’d love to hear. 👇
Ready For More?
💡 Take the quiz: “Where Do I Start? Identifying What’s Keeping You Stuck”
📖 Read more: “The Hidden Costs of Staying in a Job That Drains You”
Stuck in Work That Drains You?
It's Time To Break Free!
Your Third Act is yours to design. Break free from the grind and create work that aligns with your purpose, passion, and financial freedom.
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