In a previous post, I told you that it was okay to change your mind. Well, now I’m telling you that it is okay to start over. Bottom line, you don’t have to stay in the same place if it is no longer feeding who you are or who you’re becoming.

Two years ago, I decided to walk away from CEOMOM Magazine. At the time, I thought it would be a long-term, if not permanent, departure. It’s not that I didn’t love the foundation I had built or that I wasn’t passionate about the many women who played a role in its growth. I was just burned out. Like many women, I carried the weight of the success of the publication on my shoulders. I wore the crown of solopreneurship long enough for its weight to become heavy. Instead of being the thing that was empowering, it became something that was debilitating. Clarity was no longer the goal. It was survival. So I walked away.

What changed?

A lovely founder and entrepreneur saw what I could no longer see: my brand as something that still had the power and opportunity to impact, influence, and educate. She said that she wanted to walk alongside me on this new journey of rediscovery and rebirth.

I began the process of figuring out what CEOMOM Magazine would become. Without fully knowing everything, I began to plan a relaunch, but this time would be different. I would be more strategic, more intentional about creating and cultivating a community, and most importantly, I would not walk alone. This time, the goal was not only to build a community to support high-performing moms, but to build a community that would support me. I would make collaboration a priority, exchanging the crown of solopreneurship for a robe of support.

With plans underway to do what I could while working a full-time job, I began to feel an overwhelming weight that I wasn’t where I should be. I believed that God was calling me to start over, but not to create something completely new. Rather, He was calling me to evolve something that already existed. Something that would be stronger and more impactful because of the foundation that had been built.

Then, unexpectedly, I was laid off. Now, starting over was inevitable. My plans were suddenly accelerated. Scary? Yes. However, now I am happy to be back. And honestly, I never thought I would be. I believe it took someone still believing in me. Believing in what I’d built. Believing in what I could become.

Here are four things I’ve learned on my journey to start over, and what I’m doing differently this go-round.

You don’t have to throw away everything from your past. There are lessons you’ve learned and things you’ve built that can play a role in your new beginning. Take what you can use with you as you take this next step.

Give yourself grace. Whatever reason you’re starting over, don’t blame yourself or place unrealistic expectations on yourself. It’s easy to compare yourself to others who are where you want to be and begin to feel unaccomplished or behind. You are where you are today, and with the right plan, you can move forward with purpose and make meaningful progress.

Get help as early as possible. Starting over cannot be done alone. Progress cannot be made alone. Make a list of the help you need and identify anyone who can partner with you to meet those needs. Don’t wait until you’re burned out to ask for help. Be proactive about not pursuing everything on your own.

It’s never too late to start over. If you have breath in your lungs, the willpower, and the desire to begin again, now is the perfect time. We often count ourselves out because of age, a lack of resources, or missed opportunities, as though our dreams have an expiration date. They do not. You are still here, and that’s enough.

One bonus lesson, for my believers and people of faith: God is still good. We often feel defeated when time passes and nothing seems to be happening. It can feel like our time is up. But if it is in God’s will, it is done. Believe no matter what is around you. He never fails, and He won’t start now.

Wherever you are on your journey, whether professionally or personally, you are allowed to start over. You are allowed to pause, re-evaluate, and renew. Some of the most beautiful ideas and moments come from having the courage to return to the starting line and begin again.

Vonna Matthews, with over a decade of experience in marketing and branding for nonprofits and small businesses, is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and holds an MBA in Marketing from Dallas Baptist University. Balancing her roles as a wife, mother, and entrepreneur, she founded the lifestyle brand Bottles, Bibs & Pumps to support “mompreneurs,” and launched CEOMOM Magazine in 2016 and CEOKID Magazine in 2018 to celebrate and provide resources for women and kid entrepreneurs.