There’s so much pressure to get it right the first time — to choose the perfect path, the ideal role, the perfect plan, and stick to it. But life doesn’t work like that. And neither do we.

This short reflection reminds you that starting over isn’t failure. It is growth. It’s clarity. It’s self-awareness. Whether it’s your career, your relationships, your creativity, or your identity — you’re allowed to pivot, begin again, and rewrite the story as many times as you need.

You’re not behind. You’re evolving. And you’re allowed to start over.

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00:07

Hey, this is It's Okay If, bite-sized permission slips. I'm Matt Gilhooly and today's permission, it's okay if you want to start over, again. There's this weird pressure to get it right the first time. Pick the right career, the right relationship, the right path. And if you veer off or change your mind or realize that something no longer fits, the voice shows up, you can't start over again, you should have figured it out by now.

00:37

But here's what I've learned. Starting over isn't failure, it's self-awareness in action. I've started over more times than I can count, leaving higher education to explore the communication field, going back to school in my 40s for a new degree, launching the Life Shift podcast as a passion project that became something so much more. Each of these was a reset, a redefinition, a new version of starting over.

01:07

And every time, it was scary. And every time, was exactly what I needed. So if you're standing in that space today, feeling the pull to begin again, to pivot, to redefine yourself, that's okay. You're not behind. You're not broken. You're evolving.

01:28

So if you have it in you, tell yourself, I give myself permission to start over as many times as I need. That's your permission slip friend. Tuck it in your pocket and I'll see you next time.