Okay, real talk: when was the last time you cried in a bathroom stall at work? 🙋♀️ No judgment here—my corporate era involved weekly sob sessions between PowerPoint slides. I had the “perfect” life—corner office, designer handbags, 387 LinkedIn connections who definitely cared about my promotion post. But here’s the plot twist: I traded it all to become a full-time sourdough whisperer. And guess what? My therapist finally stopped side-eyeing me during sessions. Let’s unpack why “success” is the ultimate gaslighting scam… and how to detox.
It started with what I call the Golden Handcuff Epiphany. Picture this: me, age 29, popping a Xanax in a conference room (champagne-colored walls, obviously) while negotiating a merger… and suddenly realizing I’d rather be negotiating with my demon cat over the couch cushions. A 2022 study in the Journal of Behavioral Science found that 68% of high-achieving women experience “existential vertigo”—that nauseating feeling that you’re climbing someone else’s ladder. My ladder? More like a greased pole to nowhere.
Here’s where it gets spicy: We’ve been sold success as a math equation (Money + Prestige = Happiness). But Harvard researchers revealed that beyond $75k/year, extra cash does zilch for life satisfaction. Meanwhile, my breaking point came when I Googled “how to fake COVID test results” to avoid a board meeting. 🚩🚩🚩
The rebellion started small: I began waking up at 4am not for spin class, but to bake loaves that looked like deflated basketballs. My colleagues thought I’d joined a cult (jury’s still out). But here’s the magic—flour under my nails felt more like purpose than any bonus check. Psychologists call this “values-congruent living”—basically adulting without the soul-sucking facade.
Let’s get tactical. I created my “Anti-Resume”:
– Traded client presentations for perfecting crusty bread ears
– Swapped networking events for teaching neighbors how to fold dough
– Replaced “productivity” with staring at dough bubbles like they’re the damn northern lights
Surprise—my cortisol levels dropped lower than my sourdough starter. A UK wellness study found that people who align work with personal values have 42% lower stress hormones. My skin cleared up. I stopped having “emails incoming” nightmares. My Apple Watch actually congratulated me for resting.
But here’s the kicker: Redefining success isn’t about quitting your job (unless you want to—no pressure, sis). It’s about auditing the invisible scripts we’ve absorbed. That voice saying “But what will people THINK?!” needs to be yeeted into the sun. 🔥
Three questions that changed my life:
1) Does this choice feel heavy or light in my body? (Corporate jargon = instant backache)
2) Would I still do this if Instagram disappeared tomorrow?
3) Does it taste better than fresh sourdough with salted butter? (Trick question—nothing does)
Now, I’m not saying ditch your 401k for a goat farm (unless…👀). But what if “success” looked like:
– Taking a 3pm nap without guilt-tripping yourself
– Saying “no” to toxic opportunities that pay in “exposure”
– Measuring wealth in hours spent laughing vs. hours billed
Final confession: I make 60% less money now. But I’m 100% more alive. My new version of “power dressing” involves flour smears as accessories. And that promotion I lost? Turns out being CEO of Your Own Damn Peace is the ultimate flex.
So, what’s your “sourdough”? The thing that makes your soul hum instead of hustle? Drop it below—let’s normalize success stories that don’t come with burnout as a side dish. 💬