The Truth About Starting Over: Self-sabotage or Intentional reinvention?
sometimes it’s beneficial to start your business over from scratch when you decide to change paths but when is it beneficial or self-sabotage? that’s exactly what I break down in this episode.
Dear Creator,
Starting over isn’t the problem — it’s why you’re starting over that matters...
Sometimes a reset is exactly what we need to feel alive again, to realign, to breathe fresh energy back into our work. But other times…starting from scratch is just another way we run from discomfort, avoid growth, or sabotage ourselves without even realizing it… take it from me a ex-self sabotaging queen.
In this episode, we’re digging into the difference: when starting over is a toxic cycle holding you back from reaching your goals in business or in your life, and when it’s the bold, intentional move that pushes you forward.
Hiiii!!! And welcome back to Dear Creator! I’m Morgan, your host. I’m a Creator, Business Strategist, and Brand + Marketing Consultant. Through my Soft Pivot® philosophy, I help creatives, creators, and founders liberate the way they do business so they can break free from burnout, rigid structures, and outdated models.
In this episode, I’m unpacking the idea of starting over. Sometimes it’s a powerful, positive reset. Other times, it’s actually self-sabotage in disguise.
When Starting Over Becomes Toxic
We’ve all been there at some point, right? Wanting to burn it all down, delete social media feeds, rebrand everything, or shut the business down until we “relaunch.”
But this is my take on it…
You don’t have to start everything over.
In fact, constantly “uprooting” can be toxic which can look like:
Repeatedly rebranding or redesigning your website.
Abandoning projects when things get messy or uncomfortable.
Chasing the honeymoon phase of something new instead of following through.
This is self-sabotage disguised as growth.
What I Learned from The Mountain Is You
In the summer of 2023, I read The Mountain Is You by Brianna Wiest. It’s about self-sabotage — why we do it, how it shows up, and how to overcome it.
A chapter about Uprooting, hit me hard!!
Uprooting is when you avoid commitment and growth by constantly switching jobs, relationships, or projects instead of letting yourself fully blossom.
It stems from fears, vulnerability, rejection, failure, or success. And while it feels like freedom or reinvention, it’s actually avoidance.
If you never stay long enough to face discomfort, you:
Avoid true commitment.
Lose momentum.
Prevent yourself from deeper growth.
I’ve experienced this too! For instance, I would constantly redesign my website instead of creating content and market my services.
When Starting Over is Positive
Of course, not every fresh start is toxic. Sometimes, starting over is exactly what you need to realign with your goals.
Here’s when it can be a good thing:
Realignment: Your values, lifestyle, or vision has shifted, and the old path no longer fits.
Fresh energy: A clean slate can remove baggage and spark motivation.
Intentional reinvention: You’ve outgrown a past version of yourself or your business, and it’s time to step into the next one.
My Experience Starting Fresh
The closest I’ve come to starting from scratch was with this podcast.
Originally, Dear Creator was messy. Some episodes felt half-baked. I couldn’t even get through them myself… So I archived most of them and restarted with a clearer vision.
Now, I focus on value first—whether that’s education or entertainment…then production quality.
My Podcast Journey
Fall 2024: Started as a private podcast to experiment.
December 2024: Went public, loved the visibility and deeper conversations.
February 2025: Took a 6-month break to reflect on what I really wanted it to be.
September 2025 (Now): Relaunched with clarity, ready to create something valuable for Creators and entrepreneurs.
Self-Sabotage or Intentional Reset?
So how do you know which one you’re doing?
Red Flags of Self-Sabotage:
Leaving because it got hard or uncomfortable.
Repeating a pattern of abandoning things.
Chasing excitement while avoiding stability.
Making impulsive, fear-driven decisions.
Not fully exploring ways to improve what you already have.
Signs of an Intentional Reset:
Reflecting and realizing your current path doesn’t align with your long-term vision.
Redirecting toward something more fulfilling.
Knowing exactly what you’re moving toward, not just what you’re leaving.
Applying lessons you’ve learned differently this time.
Feeling grounded and at peace with your decision.
What’s Next for Dear Creator
Archived episodes that felt misaligned.
Setting up for future monetization (affiliates, sponsors).
Introducing two new segments!!
Guest Entries → Conversations with entrepreneurs and creators about pivots, failures, and lessons.
Personal Entries → Deep dives into my own perspectives, stories, and strategies.
Launched a Substack for companion posts, links, photos, and episode recaps.
Final Thoughts
Starting over can be toxic or transformative. The difference lies in why you’re doing it.
If it’s fear-driven and reactive…it’s probably self-sabotage.
If it’s grounded, reflective, and aligned — it’s growth!
Dear Creator is still pretty new, but I’m so excited for what’s to come! Thanks for listening, and I’d love to hear your favorite parts of this episode in the Spotify comments.
Highlights
Starting over isn’t always growth
Sometimes it’s self-sabotage (aka “uprooting”) when you avoid the messy middle, chase excitement, and abandon stability.
The Mountain Is You by Brianna Wiest
This book influenced my perspective on self-sabotage, especially the concept of “uprooting” as a way we avoid deeper growth.
Toxic resets
This looks like impulsively deleting everything, constantly rebranding, or abandoning projects once they get uncomfortable.
Positive resets
These happen when you’ve outgrown your old goals, realigned your vision, or want to intentionally step into a new version of yourself.
How to tell the difference
Ask if your decision feels fear-driven and reactive, or grounded and intentional.
My story
I restarted Dear Creator after archiving past episodes that no longer felt aligned. This was less about sabotage and more about re-clarifying my vision.
New podcast vibe
Expect two segments. Guest Entries and Personal Entries, plus a Substack companion.
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