[FULL] Melissa: “I’m A Lot Happier Than Before I Quit My Job”, Self-Acceptance & Finding Her Purpose

I couldn’t fathom the idea of quitting a job and saying “I’m doing some reflections in my life”. But Melissa did it and the many realizations can be seen from her thought processes and actions in life ever since she quit her corporate job as a project manager. If I was her biographer, I would say she is in a happier state than ever before. She does not need the acceptance of others, rather her own. She does not need to yearn for success, rather the love and care from her loved ones. She does not need to look forward to the future, rather the present moment. She does not need a lot to be happy. So does everyone else. I think the conversation with Melissa ignited a feeling of compassion within me. Interacting with the outside world only after I’m honest and brutally honest with the inside me is something I picked up lately, whether it is to express gratitude or to make inquiries, I’m sure my future self will be thankful for the present self. If you haven’t read her blog posts yet, I recommend you give them a read. Redbeanbread blog: https://redbeanbread.com/ Timeline: [00:00] Quitting her job made her happier [02:51] Life after quitting her job [04:18] What was it like in her household before she quit her job? [06:42] Melissa’s childhood [07:59] Revealing her decision to her family [13:44] Discovering self-acceptance after quitting her job [15:18] Facing the reality: What is she doing now? [16:09] Hand-written letters [17:38] Her blog - Redbeanbread [18:51] Writing a letter to her Airbnb host in Japan [20:19] Her behavioral change to connect deeply [21:41] Emotional setting in the office - are emotions important at work? [27:17] Is Melissa an emotional person? [27:42] How I felt writing the letter to her [29:38] Expressing gratitude  [31:47] “If Today Was The Last Day” [39:44] About me stuttering [41:05] The 25 Deathbed Regrets [43:55] Purpose in her day job [47:58] “Are you yearning for success or love?” [53:41] What is her definition of success? [57:14] Yearning for her own approval [01:03:24] “Serendipitous Encounters” [01:12:05] “From My Younger Self, To My Future Self” [01:15:01] Her definition of happiness  [01:23:29] What is next for her? Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.com