“You are not required to stay where people last clapped for you.” — James Barbour®
We spend too much time apologizing for changing.
For shifting gears.
For walking away.
For saying no to something that once felt like home.
And more often than not, we apologize not because we did something wrong —
But because we made someone else uncomfortable.
Let me say this as clearly as I can:
You don’t have to apologize for evolving.
You’re allowed to grow without asking for permission.
You’re allowed to outgrow expectations.
You’re allowed to leave the version of yourself that other people were more comfortable with.
Growth will always trigger those who aren’t ready for their own.
When I left certain parts of my career behind — not to quit, but to expand — I felt that pressure.
There were whispers. Assumptions. “Why would he shift direction?”
Or: “He’s not doing what he used to, so maybe he’s lost something.”
But here’s what I’ve learned:
Sometimes evolution looks like loss from the outside.
But it’s actually alignment from the inside.
You are not required to stay where people last clapped for you.
That applause was for who you were.
Not who you’re becoming.
And that next version of you —
The one that’s more rooted, more honest, more clear —
They might not understand her.
Or him.
Or you.
But that doesn’t mean you owe them an explanation.
So let this be your reminder:
You don’t need to apologize for changing your mind.
You don’t need to justify your growth.
You don’t need to explain why you’re no longer available for what no longer fits.
You’ve grown.
That’s the headline.
(Check out my other posts here).
Keep going.
With love.
With courage.
Without the need to shrink just to stay familiar.
Your evolution doesn’t need a permission slip.
It needs your commitment.
– James Barbour®
Please check out my other content (I hope you find it beneficial) https://www.jamesbarbour.com/links