In December of last year, I knew there was a client that I needed to let go. I was leading marketing at a startup that was struggling to get off the ground — and although I’d given it my all, there were foundational issues outside of my control. On top of that, gaps in staffing made it nearly impossible for my work to have the impact it should have. I could see the situation clearly, though I was hesitating about what to do next.
I knew I’d pushed far beyond the bounds of my scope, doing my best to fix things that were never really my responsibility. I had raised concerns, put my head down, and tried to come up with solutions — but ultimately, the problems weren’t mine to solve.
“When the end of the year came around, I was burnt out, discouraged, and I honestly didn’t feel like I had much left to give.”
When the end of the year came around, I was burnt out, discouraged, and I honestly didn’t feel like I had much left to give. I wrestled with walking away from the opportunity, the income, and guilt around letting people down… and I also felt a little bit like a failure.
Years of studying manifestation had taught me a few principles that kept resurfacing as I agonized over whether to quit. Chief among them this: Letting go of what’s no longer serving you always creates space for something more aligned. I knew that if I quit, another opportunity — one that was more generative, fun, and impactful — was out there, and my life had demonstrated this to be true over and over again. Whether it was work, moving, leaving a relationship, or any sort of transition, my track record offered clear evidence. But still, my fear was strong.
“Letting go of what’s no longer serving you always creates space for something more aligned.”
I believe life continues to present us with situations that reveal where we are not yet free. And freedom, to me, is a felt experience — a state of mind untethered by limiting beliefs, and a calm trust that everything is working out for your highest good. From a spiritual perspective, I could see this moment as an invitation to meet — and truly feel — some deeply unprocessed fear: The fear that I might make the wrong choice, that I might just mess up my life, that I would leap and the net wouldn’t appear, and ultimately, that the universe wouldn’t provide for me.
To me, “the universe” is another way of saying “God” or “Source” — a benevolent force guiding us toward the most authentic expression of who we are. We’re here to have a human experience and to remember that each of us is a unique expression of something much bigger — a one-of-a-kind combination of the universe’s infinite qualities. When we let go of our separate sense of self and remember that we all come from the same Source, we release the limits we place on ourselves. From that place of humility and surrender, life has more room to bring us opportunities that are truly aligned.
“When we let go of our separate sense of self and remember that we all come from the same Source, we release the limits we place on ourselves.”
Even knowing all of this, there’s still no escaping that moment when you have to jump into the abyss — the moment where you have to embrace the in-between, when there’s no work, no income, no relationship, no home, and you truly don’t know what’s coming next. When I finally worked up the courage to quit, what I was really doing was summoning the courage to face the unknown and trust the universe.
Here’s how I learned to trust the universe, let go of the job that was no longer meant for me, and create space for something new to unfold. ✨
Take inventory
When you’re in the quiet space between where you were and what’s next, you have the beautiful opportunity to take personal inventory and get clear on what you want. Whether you’re calling in love, career, home — or anything else — reflect on your last situation and make a list of what you loved and what you’re ready to let go of.
“When you’re in the quiet space between where you were and what’s next, you have the beautiful opportunity to take personal inventory and get clear on what you want.”
This is the space where pattern breaks happen — where you get to notice if you’ve been repeating a behavior or choice that’s coming from lack instead of abundance. If you’ve been settling, your next situation can be the one that truly feels like the relationship or opportunity you deserve.
This is the moment where you can get out of autopilot and take the driver’s seat. The moment when you stop accepting whatever you can get and instead drive toward what your soul is truly craving.
When I looked at my last position through this lens, I realized I wasn’t truly excited about the mission. I wanted my next role to feel inspiring and value-aligned, and to work with people I could learn from — while also adding real, tangible value to the world.
A few questions to ask yourself:
- What genuinely energized me in my last situation — and what consistently drained me?
- Where was I staying out of comfort, fear, or familiarity rather than alignment?
- What patterns do I notice repeating in my choices, relationships, or work dynamics?
- How do I want to feel in my day-to-day life — and what would need to change to support that?
- If fear wasn’t driving the decision, what would I choose?
Feeling your feelings
Now that you’ve gotten clear on what you want, you’ll likely move into a space of exploring new opportunities, meeting new people, and noticing what flows toward you in this liminal space. The difference between making a proactive choice and a reactive one is whether you’ve actually felt the uncomfortable feelings bubbling up beneath the surface.
“The difference between making a proactive choice and a reactive one is whether you’ve actually felt the uncomfortable feelings bubbling up beneath the surface.”
If you’re resisting fear or self-doubt and trying to pacify them by getting something — to make yourself feel better or safer — then the choice isn’t truly empowered; it’s a band-aid on an uncomfortable feeling.
In other words, don’t start a new relationship because you can’t bear the feeling of being alone. First, feel the loneliness. Befriend it. Sit with it. Love the part of you that’s afraid of it. Then, once you’ve given yourself that seeing and soothing and you feel calm and neutral, you can decide what you really want.
Here’s how to feel your feelings:
- When something comes up, pause.
- Notice what it is and where it’s showing up in your body. Gently detach it from the trigger and let it simply be what it is — a sensation inside you.
- Close your eyes and let it wash over you. Don’t analyze it; just be with it.
- Sit with it for a few minutes, until you’ve fully moved through it and feel some peace on the other side.
- Say thank you to the situation that awakened it, for giving you the opportunity to feel it — and become more free.
Along with this exercise, remember to move energy through you. Take a daily walk outside. Remember to take a deep belly breath when you feel a wave of anxiety. Nourish yourself with foods that are easy to digest. Go to a workout class. Dance. Don’t stay physically stagnant. Watch how much better you feel when you let things move through you.
Reflect on your manifestation patterns
Look back at the times when big things came into your life. What were the patterns surrounding those manifestations? Whether you were consciously or unconsciously calling those things in, there are sure to be some themes.
“Look back at the times when big things came into your life. What were the patterns surrounding those manifestations?”
For me, opportunities and relationships have come out of the blue — but only after I’ve done a lot of deep spiritual work and truly sat in a space of trust. They are never a result of research or force; they are a result of flow. It looks different for all of us, so find your unique pattern.
Here are some prompts to reflect on yours:
- When big opportunities or relationships have shown up in your life, what inner shifts or realizations happened just before they appeared?
- How does your energy or attention change when something you desire is about to manifest — are you resisting, forcing, or flowing?
- What subtle signals, synchronicities, or patterns in your environment tend to show up before a manifestation occurs?
If you study manifestation techniques, hold them lightly and don’t become obsessed with following a formula. That’s just creating another false god outside of yourself. The goal is to learn to trust yourself and the universe, instead of putting your trust in another source.
Put yourself in the way of synchronicity
During this time, it’s especially important not to isolate yourself or waste away scrolling on your devices. Get out into the world and put yourself in the way of synchronicity. Work from coffee shops, say yes to invitations that come your way, or invite friends out to dinner. Try a new class, visit an art museum, or explore a shop you’ve always wanted to check out. Follow that inner voice that wants to explore, and place yourself in situations where you can meet new people and get inspired by fresh experiences outside your usual routine.
“Follow that inner voice that wants to explore, and place yourself in situations where you can meet new people and get inspired by fresh experiences outside your usual routine.”
When you meet new people, be kind, provide value, listen, and see what you can learn. It’s our connections with others that always open the doors to new opportunities, and it’s important not to forget how interconnected we are.
During my in-between gigs moment, I started doing my Pilates practice-teaching hours and spending a lot of time at my local studio. It was the owner, and a dear friend of mine, who ended up saying my name when an opportunity to work with The Good Trade came up in one of her sessions. And that’s why I’m writing this piece today! ✨
So if you’re in a moment of the unknown, remember: Trusting the universe isn’t about having a perfect plan or knowing what comes next. It’s about showing up, doing the inner work, feeling your feelings, and staying open to flow. When you take inventory, notice your manifestation patterns, and put yourself in the way of synchronicity, you create space for opportunities that truly align with who you are.
“Trusting the universe isn’t about having a perfect plan or knowing what comes next.”
Every leap into the unknown is a chance to practice courage, self-trust, and surrender. Lean into the in-between. Follow your nudges, pay attention to the signs and people that show up, and trust that the next right opportunity will arrive — often in ways more beautiful than you could have imagined.
Grace Abbott is a LA-based freelance Brand & Marketing Strategist and a Contributing Editor at The Good Trade. She has a degree in Graphic Design from Parsons School of Design and is the founder of How To Go Freelance — a brand dedicated to empowering creatives to monetize their skills and build personal brands. Beyond work, she’s always studying a new spiritual modality, painting her bedroom a new color, practicing Pilates, hosting friends, or going on a nature walk with her chihuahua, Donnie. Find her on Substack or Instagram.
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