There it was, sitting at the top of the list of toughest decisions I’ve ever made:
I had a job that was the envy of many, a paycheck that made most people’s eyes pop, and a lifestyle that screamed “success”.
I’d climbed the corporate ladder, winning the rat race but somehow it didn’t feel as fulfilling as I thought it would.
It wasn’t a dramatic moment of revelation or a grand epiphany.
Instead, it was an uncomfortable nudge that kept whispering, “There’s more to life than this,” even though my bank account, my colleagues and society were shouting otherwise.
Here’s how dumping the high-paying job for a slower pace in Thailand turned out to be the greatest decision I’ve ever made.
1) The constant calls for success began to feel hollow
I was at the top of my game, raking in the big bucks. It was what I’d always wanted, or at least, what I’d always thought I wanted.
But as the numbers in my bank account grew, so did a nagging feeling of emptiness. I found myself questioning the worth of it all.
The promotions, the accolades, the late-night work sessions – they all began to lose their shine. It felt as though I was pouring my life into a cycle that never ended and never truly satisfied.
This isn’t to say that success or ambition is bad. Far from it. But when it started feeling like a chase rather than a journey, I knew something was off.
And if I was going to spend my life working, shouldn’t it be something that brought me joy instead of just stress and fatigue? If not, then what was it all for?
This growing disconnect between my work and my happiness was the first sign that a change was needed.
2) I started longing for simplicity over luxury
With the high-stress job came a high-stress lifestyle. Fine dining, fancy cars, designer clothes – they were all part of the package.
But one day, I found myself sitting in a five-star restaurant, staring down at a beautifully presented meal that cost more than some people make in a week. And I wasn’t excited.
In fact, I was downright miserable.
I started fantasizing about simpler times, about roadside food stalls and humble meals shared with friends. I yearned for less glitz, less glamour and more authenticity.
One particular memory often floated back to me. It was a trip to Thailand I had taken back in my college days.
I remembered the smell of street food wafting through the air, the laughter of locals, and the laid-back way of life.
That memory seemed to represent everything my life was missing at that moment – simplicity and contentment over extravagance and stress.
This yearning for a simpler life was my second clue that it was time for a change.
3) The words of Steve Jobs started to resonate deeply
Steve Jobs once said, “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.”
These words, which I had read many times before, suddenly took on a new meaning for me.
I was doing what society deemed ‘great work’. My job was prestigious, the salary was hefty, and I was considered successful by most standards. But did I love what I did? Was I truly satisfied?
The honest answer was no.
Instead of deriving satisfaction from my work, I often felt exhausted and unfulfilled. Despite the many rewards that came with the job, it felt like something was missing.
Jobs’ words made me realize that success is not just about social status or financial gain. True success comes from doing something you love, something that gives meaning to your life.
This realization further validated my growing desire for change. It was time to do some soul searching and find out what I really wanted from life.
4) Thailand’s approach to life was a refreshing contrast
In Thailand, there’s a phrase often used, “Mai Pen Rai,” which loosely translates to “it’s okay” or “no worries”.
It’s a mantra that embodies the Thai people’s approach to life – an acceptance of things as they are and a focus on tranquility and peace.
In stark contrast to my fast-paced life in the corporate world, this seemed like a dream.
I found myself yearning for tranquility, that slower pace of life where the focus was not on constant achievement but on contentment and peace.
The more I thought about it, the more I realized how much I craved that kind of life. A life where time was not always racing away from me, where I could pause and breathe without feeling like I was falling behind.
This contrast between my current lifestyle and the one I found myself longing for was another sign that it was time to reconsider my choices.
It was clear that what I really wanted wasn’t to climb higher up the corporate ladder but to find peace and contentment in my everyday life.
5) The decision to quit wasn’t easy, but it was necessary
I won’t lie – the idea of leaving my high-paying job filled me with trepidation. I was used to a certain lifestyle, and the thought of giving it all up was daunting.
I grappled with doubts and fears. What if I regretted it? What if I missed the comforts of my old life? What if I ended up broke and unhappy?
But amidst all these fears, one thing was clear: I wasn’t happy in my current situation. In fact, I was far from it. And no amount of money or success could make up for the lack of fulfillment and peace I felt.
I realized that sometimes, in order to move forward, you have to be willing to step out of your comfort zone. You have to be brave enough to let go of what’s familiar and embrace the unknown.
And so, I made the decision – one that was fraught with uncertainty and risk. I quit my high-paying job and embarked on a new journey towards a slower life in Thailand.
It wasn’t easy, but it turned out to be the best decision of my life.
6) Adjusting to a slower pace was a breath of fresh air
Moving to Thailand and embracing a slower lifestyle was like taking a deep, cleansing breath after holding it in for far too long.
Gone were the endless meetings, the pressure to always be ‘on’, and the constant race against time.
Instead, my days were filled with simple pleasures – a morning walk by the beach, a leisurely meal at a local eatery, an unhurried chat with a friendly local.
I found joy in things I had previously overlooked – the sound of waves lapping against the shore, the taste of fresh, local produce, the warmth of genuine human connections.
Sure, there were challenges. The language barrier was tough to overcome, and adjusting to a new culture came with its own set of hurdles.
But the sense of peace and contentment I felt far outweighed these difficulties.
Embracing a slower pace of life didn’t mean giving up on ambition or hard work. Instead, it was about redefining what success meant to me.
It was about finding balance and living a life that aligned with my true desires.
This new way of life brought me the happiness I had been searching for. It taught me that sometimes, slowing down is the fastest way to find where you truly belong.
7) Personal growth became a surprising byproduct
What I hadn’t anticipated was the immense personal growth that came with this drastic change.
Living in a new country, adapting to a different culture, and shifting from a fast-paced lifestyle to a slower one – all these experiences pushed me out of my comfort zone and forced me to learn new skills and perspectives.
I found myself becoming more adaptable, more resilient, and more open-minded. I learned to appreciate different ways of life, to value experiences over material possessions, and to find joy in simplicity.
Moreover, the slower pace gave me time for introspection. I had the chance to reflect on my values, my goals, and my identity beyond my career.
I learned more about who I truly was and what I really wanted. And in doing so, I discovered a sense of purpose and fulfillment that no high-paying job could ever offer.
This journey of self-discovery and growth further reinforced that trading my high-paying job for a slower life in Thailand was indeed the best decision of my life.
8) Happiness is a choice, not a destination
Perhaps the most profound lesson I learned from this entire journey was that happiness is not something you arrive at. It’s not a destination at the end of a career path or a reward for reaching a certain income level.
Happiness is a choice, and it’s one that we make every day.
In my high-powered job, I had fallen into the trap of thinking that I would be happy once I achieved certain milestones – a higher position, a bigger salary, more recognition.
But when I reached those milestones, happiness was always just out of reach, always waiting at the next goal.
In Thailand, I discovered that happiness comes from living in alignment with your values, from doing what brings you joy, and from appreciating the simple moments of everyday life.
Sure, my life in Thailand may not be as glamorous or luxurious as my old life. But it’s filled with peace, contentment, and genuine happiness.
And isn’t that what we’re all ultimately seeking?
Looking back, trading my high-paying job for a slower life in Thailand was not just the best decision of my life.
It was also the most liberating one because it freed me from the constraints of societal expectations and allowed me to pursue my own definition of happiness.
Embracing the journey
If you find yourself nodding along to my journey, perhaps it’s time to reflect on your own path. Are you truly happy and fulfilled in your current life, or are you just going through the motions?
Realizing that happiness is a choice – and not a destination that can be reached by accumulating wealth or possessions – was a game-changer for me.
Perhaps it’s time to ask yourself some hard questions. What does success mean to you? Is it about financial gain, or is it about finding peace, contentment, and joy in your everyday life? Are you prioritizing your needs and desires, or are you simply adhering to societal expectations?
Change is scary, and stepping out of your comfort zone can be intimidating. But sometimes, it’s the only way to truly grow and find happiness.
Remember the words of Mark Twain: “Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.”
So consider this: if there’s even a small part of you that yearns for a different lifestyle or dreams about following a different path, maybe it’s time to listen to that voice. It might just lead you towards the best decision of your life.
As I found out, sometimes the road less traveled makes all the difference.
