Letting go to grow - the scary truth about change
- Lara Marek
- Sep 26
- 5 min read
This week, I've closed a door. It didn't feel comfortable. And it still doesn't a few days later...
The first half of 2025 was intense: not one but two demanding projects that required C-Level board approval at the same time, multiple workshops I've held for organizations on the topic of mental health, my beloved client consultations - and the decision to close a chapter; for now.
After a littlemore than 4 years, this week marked my last working day as a Senior (IT) Project Manager at the Swiss Stock Exchange. All together it closes exactly 15 years in the financial industry.
Not to increase the hours in my coaching & hypnosis business, but to step into a new opportunity in October.
This is why it’s been a while since my last blog post... I needed a pause.
When summer arrived, I found myself craving mental processing time and clarity.
For me, this involves physical creativity, time with my children - and another round of decluttering.
There’s a saying that our outer environment reflects our inner world.
And there was so much I've been working on in the busy first half of 2025 - but little space to process it all. Until the outer chaos started to become my inner chaos too.
And I can't stand inner chaos. At all. It puts me into survival mode - sometimes without even realizing.
So, over the past three months I realised once again: Sometimes growth doesn’t come from pushing harder but from giving yourself permission to breathe, reset and create space.
From choosing NOT to fall back into old patterns of survival mode; but to keep becoming the person you trul want to be.
But more on the power of relaxation on a different occassion - or in this blog post (link).
What I wanted to share today is this:
When I shared my resignation, it's the reactions that surprised me most.
Some people congratulated me.
Some colleagues were sad to see me go.
But many people - especially in my private circle - were shocked.
"Why do you risk your amazing job for uncertainty?"
or
“Why? Wasn’t it good?”
It was good. Truth be told: It was excellent!
I felt seen.
I felt appreciated.
I felt trusted.
I felt safe.
I had amazing colleagues.
At the same time, my role challenged me, sometimes even stretched me to the max - and gave me the opportunities to grow I was seeking for.
I am proud of what my colleagues and I achieved in our time together.
And yet, when that new opportunity came... and felt aligned and exciting, I knew it was time to move on.
Even though it felt - and still feels - scary. (truth be told, there’s hardly a word strong enough to describe how scary it feels right now)
Even though a lot of things were great.
Even though I had so many amazing colleagues.
Yet I knew, it's time to increase my comfort zone.
And it's those shocked faces that left me wondering:
Why do so many people resist change?
Why do we cling to comfort, even when growth is calling?
Why the brain loves comfort
The answer lies in our biology.
Our brain is wired for survival, not growth.
Safety feels like routine, predictability, the “known.”
Stepping into change activates uncertainty - and uncertainty feels like danger.
That’s why even high-achievers often find themselves thinking:
👉 “I’ll make a change… once things calm down."
👉 “I’ll invest in myself… when the timing is right.”
But here’s the truth: calm rarely arrives.
Life doesn’t stop serving challenges.
Real growth often finds us in the middle of chaos.
Comfort vs. Growth
Over the past months, I had to remind myself of this too.
It would have been easy to stay. Comfortable. Predictable. Safe.
But then came the exciting opportunity in front of me.
That’s when I asked myself:
What matters more right now - comfort over growth, or growth over comfort?
I didn't reach clarity until I reminded myself of this:
✨ Sometimes letting go of what we love is inevitable for real growth.
✨ Sometimes we need to create space to invite new things in.
✨ And there is no way of knowing for sure if it is the "right" decision - until we trust the process, let go and open the next door.
And yet, letting go to grow is also the part that feels the scariest for most of us.
Saying “yes” to what excites us - even when it’s uncertain - is how we expand.
And here’s the paradox: when you choose aligned growth over comfort, life feels lighter, even if it feels harder first.
Reflection for You
Based on my own experience, I’d love to invite you to take a moment to pause and reflect now:
Where are you staying in comfort, even though a part of you is longing for more?
What “shocked faces” might you be fearing - and are they really more important than your own alignment?
If you trusted yourself fully, what decision would you make right now?
Take a few minutes to journal on this. Don't overthink. Just take a pen & paper and write down what comes to mind. No judgment.
You might be surprised at what comes up.
Lessons I carry forward
As I step into this new chapter, I hold these lessons close to heart:
Seasons of recharge are not wasted. They are where clarity grows.
Growth doesn’t wait for calm. It meets you in the whirlwind - if you’re willing to choose it.
Letting go to grow is one of the bravest choices we can make. Because we only know afterwards if it was worth it.
And if you’re standing at your own crossroads, I’d love to support you in finding the clarity, courage, and confidence to step forward.
✨ Book a free discovery call → Lara Marek Coaching
✨ Or try my free audio track for relaxation → via light-box on my main page (you might need to open a new tab and visit www.lara-marek.coach for it to pop-up again)
With love, light & gratitude
Lara
P.S. Yes, I WILL continue the work I do here - as helping others overcome their self-doubt and limiting beliefs in order to grow and expand is still a mission very close to my heart
P.P.S. It was truly overwhelming (in the best way) to see sooo many familiar faces coming to see me one last time. If you have been there: THANK YOU for taking the time & effort, for your kind words, the smiles, the hugs... you touched me deeply. I only wish there had been more time to talk wiht each of you.
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