A year ago, I quit my job, sold a bunch of my stuff, and moved to Panama. What was, by far, the hardest decision of my life was also unbelievably liberating.

My husband and I were ready for professional changes. We dreamed of launching our own ventures, but couldn’t afford to live in our hometown and not get paid.

Detaching from my professional identity was the piece that conjured heart-pounding anguish. Who would I be if I no longer worked? This uncertainty was terrifying.

On my last day in the office, our leader and I shared an intentionally long hug, and he kindly whispered, “Are you sure?”