There was a time not too long ago when I had no idea what I wanted to do with my career. All I knew was that I had to make a change.

Being in that place felt uncertain and overwhelming. I truly felt adrift—like I was floating with no real course to follow.

To make matters worse, I was beating myself up. “Really, Erin?!? You’re too young to feel this burned out, and you’re too old to feel this confused. Pull it together,” was a thought I had more often than I care to admit.

I know what it feels like to follow the rules, check all the right boxes, and wake up one day realizing you’ve been running in a race you never meant to enter.

Those were some of my hardest moments. Few things are more frustrating than not knowing what you want—only knowing, “This isn’t it.”

I dug deep and worked my way through it. My path was not linear, but it led me to what I do today. And what I do today is truly what I’m meant to do.

If this resonates with you, you are not alone. I coach so many clients through this very scenario.

Here are four pieces of advice I consistently give them:

1️⃣ Not Sure What To Do? Consult Yourself. In moments of uncertainty and overwhelm, it’s natural to feel lost and unsure of what to do or who to listen to. In those moments, you’ll never go wrong by honoring your own instincts. Your intuition is your most powerful guide. When things feel unclear, I encourage you to pause, get quiet, and check in with yourself more often than you are crowdsourcing opinions from others.

2️⃣ Self-Care Is Not Optional—It’s Your Anchor. Many people, especially women, have told me they feel guilty for taking time to care for themselves. There’s this belief that they should be doing more, and this belief switches into overdrive in times of uncertainty and overwhelm. For me, the feeling of being adrift came from the constant pushing I was doing. I was exhausted, which made it so much harder to decide my next steps. What I learned is, when you are well, you have the energy, clarity, and discernment to make the best decisions for yourself.

3️⃣ Small Actions > Constant Thinking. You don’t have to figure everything out at once. Clarity often comes from movement, not overthinking. What’s one small step you can take today? Trust that action—even imperfect action—creates momentum.

4️⃣ Don’t Compare And Despair. This one was a challenge for me, but it was one of the best things I did for myself. Someone else’s path isn’t yours to walk. What works for them may not be what’s right for you. Honor your own timing, your own way of showing up, and the choices that align with your values. Trust that you’re exactly where you need to be and going where you are meant to go. Believe me, if I had continued comparing my path to others, I would have never found my way to being a coach and owning my own business.

Which one of these would be most helpful to you today? Give yourself permission to take the time and space to honor it. You are worthy of that.