Quitting a job is one thing. Walking away from a career you have spent years building can be a much bigger decision. For Arpita Sahu, that decision came after four and a half years in the corporate world. She has now stepped away from her job and chosen to spend some time exploring what she wants from the next phase of her life.Sahu shared the update on Instagram, where she spoke openly about the emotions behind her decision, the advice that made her rethink her career, and her plans to explore content creation. She also shared the announcement on Independence Day, giving the moment a personal meaning.‘I have finally quit my corporate job’In her Instagram video, Sahu described how she felt after leaving the job she had worked hard for.“Okay, here’s a life update. I have finally quit my corporate job after four and a half years of working hard for it. It’s not excitement, it’s not sadness as well, I just feel a very strong sense of relief which I’m… I don’t know how to explain it,” Sahu said.She said the decision became clearer after she started thinking about whether her work was actually making her happy.The advice that changed how she looked at her careerSahu recalled a conversation with her therapist that gave her a different way to think about finding her purpose.“You know, my therapist had told me this thing that, in order to understand what you want, you first need to understand what you don’t want.”For Sahu, the idea helped her identify something she had already been feeling about her career.“I just did not feel that it was my purpose in life; it did not make me happy.”Rather than claiming to have found the perfect alternative, she said she wants to begin by working out what does not feel right for her.ID@undefined Caption not available.ID@undefined Caption not available.ID@undefined Caption not available.Content creation is nextSahu said her immediate focus will be on creating content while she works out what she genuinely wants to pursue.“So, in order to find what exactly is my purpose in life, I’m starting with understanding what is not. Here’s to the next chapter of creating content and living my life on my own terms. I mean… let’s see where the next chapter lies. My fingers are crossed, and I know I’m going to give my best.”She has also said that she does not know exactly where this new chapter will take her and plans to share more about the decision and her plans ahead.Why she wrote ‘Happy Independence Day to me’Sahu shared the announcement on Independence Day and used the occasion to reflect on what the decision meant to her.“Happy Independence Day to me,” she wrote.She explained that leaving a stable job felt especially significant because much of her life had followed a path shaped by expectations.“For someone who has spent most of her life doing what was expected of her, leaving a stable job after 4.5 years feels like a very big deal,” she wrote.She said she had once believed that life would follow a straightforward route of studying hard, earning a good degree, building a career, and being responsible.At some point, she began asking herself a different question:“But what if I want something different?”For her, quitting became a way of giving herself permission to explore that possibility.‘I’m scared, obviously. But I’m also incredibly excited’Sahu has not hidden the uncertainty that comes with her decision.“So this is me giving myself permission to find out. I’m scared, obviously. But I’m also incredibly excited,” she added.She does not yet know exactly what comes next, but she wants to use this period to explore her interests and decide what she genuinely wants to pursue.Social media reactsThe post received supportive comments from users who appreciated her decision.“This takes so much courage,” one person wrote.Another commented, “Choosing yourself is powerful.”Disclaimer: This article is based on information available from social media posts and publicly shared statements. The views expressed are those of the individual concerned and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Times of India.Thumb image: Instagram
