There’s a moment in everyone’s life when you realise that staying in the wrong place: be it a relationship, a job, a friendship, or even an outdated version of yourself is more painful than walking away. But walking away isn’t easy. It fills you with doubt, discomfort, and the fear of not knowing what comes next. You second-guess yourself, overanalyse, and sometimes stay too long simply because the alternative feels too uncertain. But what if you could reframe it? What if, instead of dreading the sound of leaving, you learned to love the sound of your feet carrying you toward something better?
The myth of holding on
We’re so conditioned to believe that letting go is failure. That quitting a job means we weren’t strong enough, that walking away from a friendship means we’re not loyal, or that leaving a relationship means we’ve somehow failed at love. But the truth is this: letting go is a total act of self-trust. This amounts to you choosing yourself over the version of you that settled, compromised, or stayed silent.
Staying in situations that drain you, out of obligation or fear, does infinite more harm than good. It dulls your spirit, dims your energy, and keeps you from stepping into something greater. The things that are truly meant for you will never require you to shrink to fit.
Recognising when it’s time to walk away
So how do you know when it’s time to lace up your metaphorical walking shoes and leave? Here are a few signs:
You feel exhausted, not energised. The people, places, and commitments that are right for you should bring more joy than dread. If something consistently drains your energy rather than fuels you, it may be time to reassess.
You’re staying out of fear, not love. Are you in that job because you genuinely love it or because you’re too afraid to start over? Are you maintaining that friendship because it’s meaningful or because you just don’t want to feel alone?
You’ve outgrown it. Growth is a natural part of life, and sometimes, things that once fit perfectly no longer do. That’s not a sign of failure: it’s a sign of genuine evolution.
You’re more invested in potential than reality. Are you holding on because you love what something could be rather than what it actually is? Waiting for things to change often keeps you stuck longer than you should be.
Reframing walking away as an act of strength
What if you saw walking away not as losing something, but as making space for something better? Think about a time when you walked away from something that no longer served you. Did it hurt? Probably. But did you survive? You absolutely did. And, more often than not, something better was waiting just around the corner for you!
The more you practice leaving things that aren’t meant for you, the more you learn how to cultivate self-trust. You become someone who honours their own needs, who refuses to settle, and who moves through life with greater clarity and increased confidence.
Learning to love the sound
If you’re standing at the edge of a decision, feeling torn between staying and going, take a deep breath and ask yourself: What would I tell my best friend if she were in my shoes? Often, we offer wisdom to others that we struggle to give ourselves.
Then, picture yourself walking, not just away from something but toward something better: a new opportunity, a healthier dynamic, a fresh start, or simply more peace of mind. And when you hear the sound of your own feet taking those steps, listen closely. That’s not the sound of failure; that’s the sound of freedom.
Walking away isn’t always easy, but it’s often necessary. Learn to love the sound of your own footsteps moving toward the life you deserve. Because the things meant for you will never require you to beg, force, or fight to stay. They’ll feel right. They’ll feel like home. And when you find those things, you’ll realise that walking away was always leading you there.
Niamh Ennis is a leading transformation coach and business mentor who through her private practice, programmes, workshops, and podcast supports women to achieve clarity, build confidence, and master the strategies needed to elevate in life and business. She’s the Lead Coach in The IMAGE Business Club.
Also Read
