Permission to pivot: It’s okay to outgrow your goals

Dear Professional, 

Give yourself a moment to reflect on how far you have come this year. As you celebrate the holidays, take time to celebrate your professional milestones too! As you do, you might find yourself outgrowing some of the ambitions that you once held dear.

Certain aspirations of 2024 may not need to cross over into the new year. My hope is that this letter serves as a gentle reminder that it’s okay to let go of past endeavours and embrace where you are now. And if you need it, may this letter also serve as the permission slip you’ve been waiting for to allow yourself to evolve.

Last month, this feeling of quiet guilt took on a new perspective for me and I knew instantly that I would include it in this open letter series. Late last month, I met up with a dear friend who had become a mother earlier in the year and had resigned from her job.

I’d always known her to be the workaholic type, but it was as if an entirely new side of her had emerged. The driven, fast-talking, and always-on-the-go person I once knew now radiated a calm and steady confidence. As we shared our thoughts on life, work had shifted from being her “top three” priority to something more distant. She spoke of moments spent with her baby, and finding joy in simple unhurried days - it was hard to recognise her. It felt almost like a reintroduction. 

I could not have imagined her like this a couple of years back, when her days revolved around meeting goals and making an impression at the office. Her transformation reminded me of how natural—and necessary—it is to let our priorities evolve. Outgrowing the person we once were doesn’t mean forgetting or devaluing that chapter; it’s a step forward, toward a version of ourselves that better reflects who we are becoming.

Outgrowing things is part of growth, but it’s something we don’t always allow ourselves to do. Our conversation is the inspiration for this article. It made me think about how often we hold on tight to jobs, goals, bosses, even places; simply because they’ve been part of our story.

Society often frames staying in one place as loyalty or commitment, but true commitment lies in honouring our growth. Outgrowing something shows that you’ve become clear on what fits your life and vision now. Staying in a role that no longer aligns just for the sake of stability or nostalgia only hinders your progress.

In the past, I've felt the weight of guilt when moving on, as though my growth somehow required an apology to my former self—or to others who had supported me along the way. Maybe you can relate, perhaps you’ve felt a guilty sense of loyalty to a goal, role, or company that once defined you. So, as I close out this year’s "Dear Professional" series, I want to offer this open letter to anyone feeling conflicted about outgrowing a particular goal, role, or workplace.

You are allowed to evolve. You’re allowed to move forward, to grow in new directions, and to release what no longer serves you. The position you leave behind will be embraced by someone else, ready for their own journey. And the opportunity awaiting you may be the one that aligns fully with who you are now. So embrace the change with guilt-free and with confidence, own your growth keeping in mind that every new beginning holds the promise of a better fit.

Here is to your evolution in 2025! 

Yours Sincerely, 

Charlotte Makala

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