In our first story, we met Sierra James—a 27-year-old woman who walked away from a life that looked “picture perfect” to confront a deeper truth: she was lost.
What unfolded after that moment wasn’t a neatly packaged self-help story. It was messy. It was brave. It was real. And in that realness, Sierra began to uncover the kind of success no job title or filtered photo could provide.
Now, at 29, Sierra is not just surviving—she’s thriving, by her own definition. And she’s helping others do the same.
When Letting Go Becomes a Revolution
Letting go of her corporate job was the first domino. Sierra had no grand plan—just a deep knowing that staying would mean abandoning herself.
“I didn’t know what I wanted. But I knew what I couldn’t do anymore: live a life that didn’t belong to me.”
Moving home at 27 felt like failure. But Sierra reframed it as an act of self-respect. It gave her space to breathe, to explore, and to start asking better questions.
She didn’t seek to reinvent herself. She sought to remember herself.
Tiny Experiments, Big Shifts
One of the most powerful things Sierra did was give herself permission to experiment—to try new things without the pressure of immediate clarity or success.
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She signed up for pottery classes, not because she wanted to become an artist, but because the idea sparked joy.
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She offered free writing coaching to students at the youth center, which later led to paying clients and eventually her business, Root & Rise.
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She started a personal blog chronicling her journey, not to build a brand, but to heal—and in doing so, she built a following.
“Every step wasn’t a solution. It was a signal. The more I followed what felt true, the clearer my path became.”
Root & Rise: A Mission Born from the Messy Middle
Root & Rise was never part of the plan. It grew organically—just like Sierra.
At first, it was a blog. Then a few coaching sessions. Eventually, it became a full-fledged creative mentorship platform for young women trying to make sense of their identities in a chaotic world.
Sierra now hosts virtual writing circles, one-on-one coaching sessions, and seasonal retreats that blend journaling, mindfulness, and real talk about purpose, fear, and identity.
“It’s not about having the answers. It’s about creating a space where it’s safe to ask the questions.”
What Sierra Wants Every Twenty-Something to Know
In hindsight, Sierra doesn’t see her quarter-life unraveling as a breakdown. She sees it as a breakthrough.
She offers these reflections for anyone feeling stuck, small, or scared:
1. Pausing isn’t quitting.
Stepping back doesn’t mean you’ve failed—it means you’re brave enough to realign.
2. Uncertainty is part of becoming.
Feeling lost? That’s the space where your real self begins to emerge. Don’t rush it. Trust the unfolding.
3. It’s okay to outgrow your old dreams.
What once fit may no longer serve you. That’s not betrayal—it’s evolution.
4. You don’t need a five-year plan.
You need one brave step. Then another. Clarity comes from doing, not just thinking.
5. Redefine success with your soul in mind.
For Sierra, success is slow mornings, meaningful work, deep connection, and integrity. What does it look like for you?
What’s Next for Sierra?
She’s working on a book—a blend of essays, prompts, and poetry called “The In-Between Is Sacred.” It’s a love letter to anyone navigating the messy, magical years between “who I was” and “who I’m becoming.”
She’s also partnering with colleges to lead storytelling workshops that help students articulate their values, fears, and dreams—on and off the page.
“I thought I needed to find meaning,” Sierra says. “But I’ve learned to create it instead.”
Give Yourself Permission
You don’t need to have it all figured out by 25—or 35, or 45. Like Sierra, you can choose to pause, pivot, and rewrite the narrative.
Your life is not a checklist. It’s a canvas. And every choice you make from a place of truth adds a stroke of color to the masterpiece of who you’re becoming.
So pause if you need to. Grieve what you’re leaving behind. Explore what lights you up. You are not lost—you are becoming.
Note: this story is fictional and does not reflect any one individual. The author has taken libery in writing the story based on hudreds of interviews with women in their 20’s, 30’s and 40’s she has conducted over the years.
