🛟 Ask Sarah Anything:What if I regret changing jobs?

Dear Sarah,

I’ve been at the same company for over 10 years. It’s stable, the people are nice, and I’m good at it. And I’m bored. Recently, I had a conversation with someone in a totally different field and she thinks I would be great working for her. She hasn’t offered me a position so I don’t want to get my hopes up. And this is a bit of a step backwards in terms of pay and title. But I’m excited about the idea for the first time in a long time.

The risk is freaking me out. What if I leave a good thing and regret it? What if I’m not actually good at this new thing? How do I know if I’m being smart or just scared?

— Restless But Cautious

Dear Restless But Cautious,

Feeling scared doesn’t mean it’s the wrong move. It means you care.

Staying in the same workplace for a decade takes commitment. So does admitting you want something different. That kind of honesty is brave. The fact that this new opportunity even exists means your curiosity is pointing you toward growth.

What if you thought about this as if you’re stepping toward something, not away from something? This might expand your skills, open doors, and wake up parts of you that have been asleep under the label “stable.”

Regret doesn’t come from taking risks that didn’t work out. It comes from staying stuck when your soul knows better.

If this new role lets you grow, stretch, and build a life that feels more aligned, that’s not a sideways move. That’s a strategic one.

I can’t make the decision for you. You know what’s best. But you’ve already lived this life for the last ten years and you know exactly what the future will hold for that. Do you want something new slightly more than you fear it? Do you want to stretch yourself slightly more than you want to keep life at the status quo?

If I could give a parting piece of advice: Bet on the version of you that’s ready to evolve. That version is already knocking.

— Sarah

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