When the Off-Ramp Feels Out of Reach

It’s been a while since I last shared here. Life — and work — have a way of filling every available space, don’t they? But lately, I’ve been reminded that even in the busiest seasons, there’s wisdom in pausing long enough to listen to what our lives are trying to tell us.

Not long ago, I wrote about how so many Gen Xers are standing at a crossroads — experienced, capable, and wise enough to create meaningful work on our own terms, yet often held back by what we call the “golden cuffs.”

We’ve built steady careers, earned the titles, and created lives that depend on that reliable paycheck. But beneath the surface, many of us feel that quiet pull — the sense that our next chapter is supposed to look different.

I know that feeling well. Over the past year, I’ve been reflecting on my own journey — the business I poured myself into, the late nights spent planning, creating, and investing in programs and coaching that, for a while, didn’t seem to move the needle. I went so hard, so fast, that I lost touch with my rhythm, with the part of me that finds joy in the process itself.

In Kabbalistic terms, I was “forcing the Light” — trying to pull blessings into my life faster than I was prepared to hold them. From a Christian perspective, it’s the same truth: we can’t rush God’s plan. Sometimes what feels like a delay is actually divine preparation — a time when God is shaping our hearts and refining our purpose before the next door opens.

That realization brought me back to center. Because this journey — the “off-ramp” we all dream about — isn’t about escaping our 9-to-5s overnight. It’s about aligning with the deeper calling beneath all the doing. It’s about creating space to listen, to receive guidance, and to move forward from purpose, not pressure.

So if you’ve been feeling like your off-ramp is out of reach, take heart. Maybe you’re not stuck — maybe you’re simply in a season of preparation. The foundation you’re laying today — in your career, in your faith, in your self-awareness — is the very structure that will support the life you’re meant to build next.

As I continue building what’s next for Heart-Led Ventures, my hope is to create space for conversations like this — the ones that remind us that our timing, our growth, and our callings are uniquely our own.

So I’ll leave you with this:

👉 What if this season isn’t holding you back… but preparing you for something greater than you imagined?