When you think about quitting your job, part of you may feel this sense of relief and fantasize about what it will be like to be out of there, but another part of you feels this whirring anxiety and guilt about quitting. Here’s how to stop feeling guilty about quitting your job.

It’s Normal to Feel Guilty for Quitting Your Job

First: It’s normal to feel guilty when leaving a job. You’re leaving a role, but you’re also leaving familiar routines and people. In a change like this, there is loss. But I want you to be able to separate a healthy sense of loss in a transition, without the heaviness, guilt, and shame that can sometimes come up when leaving.

How to Stop Feeling Guilty for Quitting Your Job

There are 4 common reasons people feel guilt when they quit. Here are reasons and ways to work through them so you can quit with integrity, guilt-free.

1. I don’t want to inconvenience the team

It will inconvenience the team. But you deserve to make a change in your life that is disruptive to other people.

And: If the whole place falls apart because you leave, that’s an organizational structure issue that is not your responsibility to solve. If you’re the only tent pole holding this whole circus up, why’s that? That’s not your job to fix.

2. I’m afraid people will be mad!

People will have reactions. It’s not your job to protect grown-ups from big feelings that are a result of actions that are within your own integrity. They’ll probably have feelings about it. And that’s okay. That doesn’t make them bad. That doesn’t make you bad.

You can’t avoid making positive changes in your life because it evokes feelings in others. Hopefully, eventually, folks will be happy for you and that you’re moving on to something better. If not, no wonder you want to move on.

3. I don’t want to be disloyal

Moving on when you no longer want to be there is a responsible, respectful thing to do. It makes space for someone who does want to be there and can bring in new energy and ideas. That can be a very good thing for an organization. When they need you to be gone, you will be gone. Possibly with nary a parting sheet cake.

4. I feel like I don’t deserve more

Every human deserves the dignity, joy, and ease of meaningful work, including you.

Folks often have an underlying belief that it’s morally superior to suffer to get a reward. That we have to struggle to “earn” ease, money, rest, joy, or support. Suffering and struggling does not make you more worthy of getting paid. And they do not make you better at your work.

Reframe: wouldn’t you rather receive service from someone joyful, fulfilled, and being well-paid vs. someone who’s going through the motions just for the paycheck?

Remember this: Take up space in your own life. It’s ok to quit.