When I decided to go on this sabbatical, I imagined myself on the first day of funemployment overflowing with joy because I could be my own boss and finally pursue my dream of being a full-time creative.
But to be honest, I felt the complete opposite. I was lost, confused, and anxious.
For the past 10 years, I had been surrounded by people working the typical 9-5. And breaking away from that lifestyle felt extremely uncomfortable. Instead of following schedules and company-set goals, I was venturing out on my own to figure out my own path. No one was there to tell me what I needed to do to succeed.
I always thought I was disciplined, organized, and self-sufficient. In the corporate world I prided myself for being someone that thrived in abiguity. But suddenly the ambiguity of being my own boss felt overwhelming.
Looking back, I realize that the fears and worries I experienced were completely natural. After all, I was stepping into uncharted territory, and not many people around me had done what I was doing.
In the moment though, I was scared. And that fear led me into a spiral of negative thoughts, making the experience of leaving my job and pursuing my dream less enjoyable than I had hoped for.
Thankfully, during the first few weeks of my sabbatical I stumbled upon some books that saved me from my misery and helped shift my mindset. These books addressed the big worries that constantly plagued me:
1. If you’re worried leaving your day job will ruin your life forever→ Check out The Pathless Path by Paul Millerd
This book is like a pep talk from someone who went from chasing corporate success to finding balance and fulfillment through self-employment. It addresses the fears and doubts that hold people back from taking the leap into entrepreneurship.
💡 Reading this book taught me that it’s okay to wander off the beaten path and embrace the unknown.
This book is written as a conversation between a philosopher and a young man seeking guidance on happiness and relationships. This book encourages readers to live life on their own terms, break free from old judgments, and stop seeking external validation.
This book is all about living a creative and fulfilling life without fear. She offers practical advice on how to navigate self-doubt, approach creativity with curiosity, and embrace imperfection.
💡 One of my favorite ideas from this book is that it’s better to be a trickster than a martyr. The trickster “sees through our delusions of seriousness and exposes the play underneath all our drama” and “understands that all this world is temporary, all of it is shifting, all of it is nonsense, all of it is fair game for delight.”
I wish I had read these books before starting my sabbatical. They helped me feel more grounded and confident in my decision and I'm happy to report that I have no regrets about leaving my job.
If you're thinking about making a similar leap, I hope these books can help you too. And if you have other book recommendations on these topics, I would love it if you could share them in the comments below!
Cheers,
Chie
