Meet Kimberly: Redefining Success by Downshifting

Before children, Kimberly worked at a quasi-governmental planning agency in their aging division.

"After my first, I transitioned back pretty well, only experiencing a few things that made me raise an eyebrow, like the lack of support with pumping and long travel while in the first half year of nursing."

But the transition from one to two kids was a breaking point.

"I had a very hard maternity leave with lots of fainting, dehydration and mastitis. I also had a baby who had a really hard time learning to fall asleep. Returning to work felt like jumping on a moving train."

With transitions in leadership, the support she had before started to vanish.

"Somehow my expectations were raised as I had 'been there so long.' Eventually, my job began to feel psychologically unsafe and I no longer felt aligned with the work."

And yet, she felt compelled to stay.

"I felt completely stuck because I never thought, in a million years, we could be a one-income family. So I stayed in the growing toxic environment for four more years."

Over time though, it chipped away at her.

"By this time I had no self-esteem, was completely isolated, was gaslit to believe I was bad at my job. HR was of no help and I was told, 'I don’t really want to investigate because it takes a lot of work.' I searched for new jobs but was terrified to apply because I honestly thought I was unemployable."

Then, one day, she was sent a lifeline in the form of an Instagram ad.

"I saw an IG ad for 'women in soul-sucking jobs,' did a meet and greet, and decided to invest in myself and signed up for the program."

That decision changed everything.

"The program included hypnotherapy which helped me change my mindset. My coach also helped me identify that I was being bullied and abused at work and that I was the only one who could change it. She asked me, 'How long are you going to tolerate it?'"

Kimberly made a plan to leave in a few months, just to get a few more paychecks. But one email changed her timeline.

"My supervisor’s comment in an email gave me a panic attack. I decided in that moment to take my power back. I told my boss I was submitting a formal resignation tomorrow and that I’d stay two weeks to finish as much as I could if I didn’t have any contact with my supervisor."

She finished those two quiet weeks. Then she stopped.

"I spent five months without a job. I took time to reset my nervous system and heal."

When it was time to work again, she knew one thing for sure:

"I didn’t want anything to do with my previous work experience ever again."

So she tried something radically different.

"I decided to take a part-time job at my local hair salon until I figure it all out! Now I’m home before the school day ends, I only work 4 days a week, and I’m around supportive, encouraging creatives!!! I get more time with my kids and most of all, I have MUCH better mental health!"

She’s honest about the unexpected turns this new life has taken.

"It is NOT what I imagined life to be. We’ve had to make a lot of changes, and I still struggle with thoughts of 'Did I fail somehow?' But I no longer allow people to have power over my time, peace, or energy, so it has been a great decision."

"10/10 recommend a downshift!"

Powerful Reminders from Kimberly

"I had to get over the idea that I failed and redefine what success looks like."

"Sometimes I feel like we are brainwashed. I wish I would have invested in myself sooner and realized that my home life is my real life. Everything can be figured out."

"I wish I wouldn’t have cared so much about what people were thinking or saying about me. Bullies’ opinions shouldn’t have mattered."

"Investing in yourself is never the wrong choice. One small step and then another—it leads to all the paths you are hoping for."

"It’s a little out there, but literally, everything in this world is just made up. Seriously. Do whatever you need to do to make yourself happier!!!"

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Questions? Connect with Kimberly

Email: kimberlyascanlon@gmail.com