10 Things I Quit after 40 Turning 40 wasn’t just a number — it was a portal. I didn’t just age — I evolved. Here are 10 things I let go of — to rise, reclaim my power, and live on my terms.

  1. Job

Don’t rent your time — own things that grow without you.

One year ago, I thought I would become a developer. This March, I considered being an online tutor. But now, I’ve quit the search for a “job.”

I quit the idea of trading time for money. I no longer want to be hired — I want to build.

Now, I create— Blogs that share my voice. Videos that express my ideas. Investments that grow quietly while I sleep. A life of freedom, not just function.

I choose what to create. I choose where to live. I choose how to spend my time.

It may be slow at first — but like all meaningful things, it compounds. And to me, freedom is worth far more than a paycheck.

  1. People-Pleasing

If you lose yourself to be liked, you’ll never feel loved.

For years, I tried to please everyone — My parents. My in-laws. My husband. My friends. Even people I hoped would like me.

But I quit people-pleasing — this month. And I did it for two reasons:

On one hand, if you shrink yourself to be liked, people can sense it — and they won’t truly respect you. Deep down, even you begin to question your own worth.

On the other hand, it creates inner conflict. I was acting like someone I wasn’t — and losing myself in the process.

Now, I show up as me. No masks. No performing. No pretending. No pleasing. And to my surprise, I’ve gained more respect from my family and started to attract the people who see me — not the version of me I used to perform.

  1. Draining Relationships

Just because it’s familiar doesn’t mean it’s healthy.

I used to call my mom every week — only to be met with criticism, not care.

I tolerated my husband’s temper for years — thinking that marriage was about compromise and enduring, even when it hurt.

I stayed connected to friends who told me to shrink, limit, and play small — and I listened.

But not anymore.

I let go of energy-sucking relationships — even if it meant temporary discomfort.

I declared my truth:

I won’t endure just to be accepted.

I told them directly: “I am not who I was. If you treat me like the old version of me — I will walk away.”

And I meant it. Because I need to focus my energy on building myself.

  1. Lost in the Past and Future

I no longer live in memories or imagined fears. I create my dream life by showing up fully here.

I used to be haunted by rumination — replaying past mistakes that I could never change.

I used to overthink about future uncertainties — imagining worst-case scenarios that never even happened.

But now, I return to the present.

I release regret and fear during my morning walks. With every step, I come back to now. I stop worrying about the future — and start building it instead.

  1. Chasing External Validation

I don’t need applause to know I’m worthy.

I used to constantly seek reassurance: “How do I look?” “Am I fit enough?” “I finished this task — does that make me smart?”

But deep down, I felt unseen and unworthy.

Now, I’ve started to truly see myself.

I know I carry ambition with self-awareness, execution with emotional intelligence, and vision with deep alignment.

I no longer ask for confirmation.

I quit performing for approval — Now, I validate myself. From within.

  1. Old Roles and Labels

I outgrew the boxes others put me in.

I used to try so hard to fit the roles:

To be a good wife, I avoided talking to men. To be a perfect daughter, I gave half my savings to my younger brother and sister. To be a selfless mother, I gave up myself to raise my children. I even cared about what the neighbors thought of me.

I put social roles and labels ahead of my truth — until I realized myself was disappearing like dust.

Now, I let them go. I no longer live to fulfill expectations. I live to become who I was meant to be.

  1. Trying to Control Everything

Surrender isn’t weakness. It’s wisdom.

I used to try so hard to control life.

I tried to change my husband — because I didn’t want him wasting his life on video games past 2 a.m.

I tried to be a tiger mom — pushing my kids to meet my expectations.

I studied computer science for 18 months out of curiosity — but then I forced myself to keep going another 6 months, even when the passion was gone.

But I failed — because force always fails.

Now, I surrender. Not by giving up — but by letting go.

I stopped trying to control everything. Now, I trust the flow, take aligned action — and release the outcome.

  1. Chasing quick return

“All the benefits in life come from compound interest — in money, relationships, and learning.” — Naval Ravikant

I used to chase speed. I invested in high-growth companies hoping for quick profits — but ended up losing 50% of my capital.

I married a rich husband to escape the pressure of building my own life — but eventually, I had to start over at 40.

Now I quit chasing fast money, instant validation, and shortcuts. Because quick returns often come at the cost of your peace, integrity, and long-term freedom.

Now, I play the long game. I’m building a blog, a YouTube channel, a portfolio, and a soul-led life. I’m investing in things that compound quietly: – My body – My mind – My wealth – My energy – My emotional depth

Every day, I invest in my future self — physically, mentally, financially, emotionally, and spiritually.

Because I’m not here for a quick win. I’m here for sustainable power.

  1. Mindless Media

I stopped watching the world — and started creating my own.

In 2024, I got caught up in the chaos — elections, headlines, opinions. The more I consumed, the more miserable I became.

So in this January, I stopped scrolling. No more local news. No more global drama. No more celebrity gossip. No more endless updates from people I barely know.

It was all noise — triggering fear, comparison, and desire. And those emotions pulled me off my path.

Now, I protect my mind like it’s sacred space. By doing so, I gained back my focus, my peace, my energy — and my hope.

  1. Sugar

I don’t crave short-term pleasure. I crave long-term power.

I quit sugar this March — no processed food, no hidden sweeteners. Since then, my skin glows. My energy is steady. My thoughts are sharper. My sleep is deeper. And I feel like I’m aging in reverse.

Every time the craving returns, I whisper to myself:

This isn’t about pleasure — this is about power.

I didn’t just quit sugar for my body. I quit for my brain, my clarity, my future self.

✨ Final Note Quitting isn’t giving up. It’s waking up. When I let go of what drains me, I make room for what frees me.

This is the decade I become fully alive.