Unsubscribing from the Hustle

“…to have existed without fully participating in life — that is the deepest personal tragedy.”

— Edward Abbey

Living life in misalignment

I used to think success meant making everyone proud.

Choosing a career my family approved of. Trying to climb the societal ladder by working harder, picking up more hours, saying yes when I wanted to say no. Getting paid only to consume more. This cycle slowly became my entire identity.

But here’s the truth: I was empty. Not just exhausted, but experiencing a hopeless kind of burnout. I was living for the weekend, numbing myself, and measuring my worth by excessive productivity and external approval.

Sometime in the last few years — after hitting rock bottom and learning to accept some difficult truths — something clicked. I began to realize that I was denying my own worth by subscribing to a lifestyle I didn’t actually align with.

A turning point

The shift didn’t happen all at once. There was always a quieter part of me questioning whether there was more to life than this.

But the ambitious overachiever didn’t have the time or energy to explore thoughts of that caliber. So, like clockwork, I brushed it off. I told myself I was lucky. I shamed myself for even thinking it. I pushed through.

This continued for a while — chronic comparison, deepening insecurities, and worsening burnout. Eventually, the turning point became a breaking point. A necessary one.

Shifting my perspective allowed me to see that societal acceptance is a pointless pursuit. If I wanted contentment, I needed to turn inward instead of constantly looking outward.

Redefining success

Standing up against the rat race isn’t about quitting your job or moving to a cabin in an old-growth forest (though, let’s be honest, I’ve dreamed about both). It’s about rewriting the rules for your own life.

Choosing presence over hustle. Valuing your health, peace, and relationships over income and material things. Saying no to the pressure to keep up, consume more, and look perfect doing it.

For me, this has looked like slowing down and getting to know myself on a deeper level. Prioritizing my needs. Focusing on my health. Establishing boundaries. Reconnecting with the things that make life feel full — time in nature, meaningful conversations, and caring for both my body and mind.

An ongoing fight

I’m not here to pretend I have it all figured out. Hustle culture is still glorified. The pull to do more is strong, and I have to hold myself accountable regularly.

But every time I choose depth over speed, every time I stop comparing my life to someone else’s, I find my way back.

This space exists to share that journey. Not the highlight reel. Not the polished or perfected version.

Just an honest place to talk about what it means to step out of the hustle and live a life that feels lighter, slower, and profoundly human.

If you’ve ever felt stuck or out of touch, I hope you find something here that helps you pause, breathe, and remember that you’re not alone. A different path is possible.