A Rhythm Reset: Rediscover Your True Path
Sometimes, you realize that something in your life isn’t quite working, but you’re not exactly sure what to do about it. Maybe you’ve been feeling disconnected, like the life you’re living is no longer in alignment with who you truly are. Or perhaps you feel like an imposter? It’s easy to ignore this feeling, to keep going through the motions, telling yourself that this is just how it is. Eventually, you’ll either choose to listen to that quiet ache that tells you something’s not right, or you’ll grow resentful of your life, placing blame on yourself or others with the belief that there’s no way out. But I’m telling you, there is. We are creatures of choice. And we can choose to reset.
It’s easy to think that a reset means you should immediately have all the answers—knowing exactly what you want or where you’re headed. But here’s the truth: sometimes the reset doesn’t come with instant clarity. It definitely doesn’t come with a roadmap. What it does come with is uncertainty. It comes with a blank page, and that can feel both freeing and overwhelming at the same time. So, where do you even begin?
For me, the reset wasn’t just about leaving behind old habits or routines—it was about giving myself permission to pause, to question, and to reassess. I had spent so much of my life focused on what I should be doing that I didn’t always stop to ask myself what I really wanted. In today’s world, there’s a lot of pressure to keep moving forward, to always be productive, and to do “the right thing.” But sometimes, it’s that very pressure that leaves us feeling disconnected from ourselves. The “right thing” for you may not be the “right thing” for those around you. Keep in mind that the people you surround yourself with can greatly influence how you view your life and your place in the world. Whether or not your “right thing” is good enough is often shaped by their standards. It’s okay to expand your social circle to include people who push you in the direction you want to go.
I get it. There’s guilt in the pause. There’s this voice that says, But you can’t just stop. You can’t just let go of everything you’ve worked for. And that voice can be deafening. It can keep us stuck in jobs, relationships, and patterns that no longer align with our hearts. But here’s the truth I’ve come to realize: sometimes, the most important thing we can do is press pause. Even if we don’t know exactly where it’s going to lead. Maybe this doesn’t have to look radical. This doesn’t have to mean quitting your job tomorrow, breaking up with your boyfriend, and moving across the country.
For example, maybe you live in the city working a corporate job and feel nature calling you, but your life doesn’t allow enough time to commute to the forest for some much-needed therapy. Should you quit your job, find land, buy a camper, and move? Maybe. If you’re privileged enough to have that option. But for most of us, that’s not realistic. Another option could be to lower your bills so you can work one day less, and on your three-day weekends, commute to the country, camp, and explore. Take a nature survival course. Start following people on YouTube who are living the life you want. Make friends with people who are doing what you dream of and ask them questions. It’s not impossible. It may not be instant, but you can take that first step.
The reset, even when it’s messy and uncertain, is still worth it. In that space of uncertainty, you start to hear your own rhythm again. Amidst all the noise of hustle and bustle—living a life you don’t want—it can be hard to listen to your inner voice. But if you pause, if you get quiet, you may just hear it. And maybe for the first time, you’ll be ready to follow it—without needing to justify it or have all the answers.
Do you feel that gnawing sense that something needs to change, but you’re not sure what the next step is? Maybe you’re unsure of what you want or where to even begin. That’s okay. You are not alone in this! But if you take a step toward your dreams—no matter how small—you’ll find yourself among a minority. We are all dreamers. But we aren’t all doers.
The truth is, the reset isn’t about having it all figured out. It’s about giving yourself permission to explore and play. To ask questions without the pressure of having all the answers right away. It’s about creating space for yourself to discover what truly sparks joy and what aligns with who you are.
If you’re struggling to figure out what you want after the reset, there are ways to begin finding your rhythm again.
One thing that’s helped me is a simple brain dump. When I’m feeling overwhelmed or stuck, I grab a notebook and just let all the thoughts pour out—no editing, no filtering. I write everything that comes to mind, from big dreams to daily frustrations. Sometimes, I’ll spend 10 minutes jotting down anything that comes to mind, and in that chaos, patterns and desires begin to emerge. The brain dump helps me clear the mental clutter and get closer to what I really want—without the pressure to have it all neatly packaged.
There’s a book called The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. It’s not just for artists. One of the suggestions in this book is to do a brain dump every morning before you start your day. I did this for a few years, and through that exercise, I discovered how unhappy I was. I hadn’t even realized how deep my discontent went until I started this exercise. In the book, she calls it “morning pages.”
It took years before I really started living the way I wanted to. It wasn’t easy. But it started with small steps. And the more small steps I took, the braver I got. I started to make even bigger changes. Some of them crashed and burned. But overall I started to head in the direction that felt right. And here I am today still taking steps. But overall feeling much more satisfied with my life.
Another idea is to think about what excited you as a child. What lit you up from the inside? Children are the most authentic beings—they haven’t conformed to the societal “grow up” mentality yet. Reconnect with that child in yourself. Talk to them. Ask them what they want.
Sometimes, it’s just about giving yourself permission to experiment. It doesn’t need to be a huge commitment right away. Start small. Take a class. Try something new. See where it leads. The point isn’t to find the “perfect” passion—it’s to allow yourself to try. Experimenting can help you rediscover what feels aligned with your soul, without the pressure of needing it to be “the one.”
Educating yourself is never a waste. And with the internet and youtube, educating yourself has never been easier. I’d start there.
I get it—change can feel daunting. But when we resist the call to reset, we risk living a life that’s out of sync with who we are. Suddenly, time slips away, and you’re left wondering where it went and whether you spent it wisely.
I’ve spent so much of my life letting guilt get in the way. The guilt of not being productive enough. The idea that productivity had to come in certain forms, like how much money I made or how clean my house was. The guilt of not following a traditional path. But I’ve come to understand something crucial: there’s no “right” way to live. The reset is your journey, and you don’t need anyone else’s permission to pursue it. It’s not selfish to take time to find your rhythm. In fact, it’s essential. When we take the time to nurture what makes us feel alive, we show up better for those we love. We become more present, more authentic, and more aligned with our own purpose.
So, if you’re feeling uncertain about what comes after your reset, remember: it’s okay. You don’t have to have it all figured out right now. What matters is that you’ve made the space to ask the questions, reflect, and give yourself permission to explore. It’s in that exploration that you’ll start to uncover what truly aligns with who you are and what you’re meant to do. Stop waiting. Stop overthinking. Stop making excuses. Just take one step forward.
