Introduction: Why “Backwards” Isn’t Failure
“You’re leaving Dubai and going back to the UK? Don’t you feel that’s going backwards in life?”
That was a comment made to me when I chose to return to the UK. At the time, I had a comfortable life in Dubai, but it was no longer serving me. What struck me wasn’t the question itself, but the assumption behind it: that facing career setbacks and going “backwards” — to a previous country, career, or job — equals failure.
It’s this belief that keeps so many people trapped. Clients come to me stuck in toxic relationships, burnt out from entrepreneurship, tied to failing businesses, or clinging to high-paying but soul-destroying jobs. They stay not because these choices bring joy, but because they fear the shame of appearing to go back.
But here’s the truth: sometimes stepping backwards is the smartest way forward. Whether it’s returning to a previous career, taking a job with less pay, or moving back to a place you once left, what matters is not what you leave behind but what you move towards — peace, purpose, and a life that works for you.
If you’re struggling with a career setback or worried about “moving backwards,” here are seven ways to reframe, recover, and bounce back stronger.
1. Redefine What ‘Backwards’ Really Means
The first step in recovering from a career setback is to challenge the definition of “backwards.” Society tells us that stepping back into a previous job, career path, or even country is a failure. But what if it isn’t?
Going back to corporate life after entrepreneurship, for example, is often seen as giving up. Yet for many, it offers psychological safety, financial security, and renewed clarity on what they value most. That’s not failure — that’s wisdom.
Reframe question: Instead of asking, “Am I going backwards?” try asking, “Am I moving towards what matters most to me?”
2. Prioritise Wellbeing Over Status
Many professionals remain in toxic workplaces or unmanageable businesses because the alternative looks like a loss of status. But prioritising prestige or money over mental health is a dangerous trap.
I know this firsthand. Years ago, I took a 40% pay cut to escape a toxic workplace. I sold my car, downsized my lifestyle, and budgeted carefully. From the outside, some people thought I was “failing.” In reality, I was gaining my health, peace of mind, and freedom.
And the irony? Within a year I was promoted, earning 50% more than before, and receiving the maximum bonus every year. My performance soared precisely because I chose wellbeing over status.
Key lesson: Short-term sacrifice in income or prestige often leads to long-term gains in health, energy, and opportunity.
3. Focus on What You’re Moving Towards
The fear of failure keeps us obsessing over what we’re leaving behind — the job title, salary, or image. But the real power lies in focusing on what you’re moving towards.
When clients tell me they feel ashamed of leaving a prestigious city job or moving back to a smaller market, I ask:
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Are you moving towards greater psychological safety?
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Towards more time with your family?
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Towards people, leaders, and teams who value and support you?
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Towards peace of mind and self-respect?
If the answer is yes, then that’s not backwards. That’s a step in the right direction.
This is what “career setback recovery” really looks like — not clinging to appearances, but consciously moving toward health and alignment.
4. Rebuild Confidence by Owning the Choice
One of the biggest fears about career setbacks is what other people will think. Will friends judge me for leaving entrepreneurship? Will colleagues think less of me for taking a lower-paying role?
The antidote is ownership. When you fully own your decision — “Yes, I chose this because it’s right for me” — you shift from shame to confidence.
Practical tip: Write down the reasons you’re making this move. Be specific. Maybe it’s “to reduce stress,” “to regain time with my children,” or “to rebuild financial security.” Keep this list close. When doubts creep in, remind yourself why this choice is an act of strength, not weakness.
Confidence doesn’t come from proving yourself to others. It comes from living in alignment with your own values.
5. Reframe Failure as Feedback
Another powerful way to bounce back from career setbacks is to see them not as dead ends but as feedback.
Did the entrepreneurial path drain you? That’s not failure — that’s data. Did the high-paying corporate role leave you burnt out? That’s not shameful — that’s insight. Each “failure” is a feedback loop guiding you closer to what does work.
Research on resilience backs this up: people who view setbacks as temporary and specific (rather than permanent and personal) are far more likely to recover and thrive. Harvard Business Review has long noted that reframing failure as a learning process is key to sustainable success.
Instead of fearing failure, embrace it as a natural part of “overcoming career change fears.”
6. Take the Long View: Short-Term Sacrifice, Long-Term Gain
When you take what looks like a backwards step — a pay cut, a demotion, or a return to a previous industry — it’s easy to focus only on the short-term cost. But often, those short-term sacrifices set you up for long-term gain.
In my own journey, taking a lower-paying role freed me to perform at my best, which quickly led to higher income and advancement. Many of my clients discover the same: by stepping into roles that align better with their values, they not only recover but accelerate their careers over time.
Think of it like chess. Sometimes stepping a piece back is the only way to set up a winning move.
Reframe: A sidestep or backstep isn’t a defeat — it’s strategy.
7. Remember: It’s Your Life, Not Theirs
At the heart of career setbacks and “moving backwards” is one essential truth: nobody else is living your life.
Nobody else pays your bills, feels your stress, or navigates your unique circumstances. Yet so many of us hand over our power to the opinions of others.
Practical exercise: Ask yourself, “If nobody judged me, what would I choose?” Write the answer without censoring yourself. That answer is often the path that feels backwards to others but forward to you.
Because in the end, the only failure is abandoning yourself to meet other people’s expectations.
Conclusion: Backwards Is Sometimes Forwards
Career setbacks are not the end of your story. They are part of the process. Stepping back — into a different role, a lower salary, or a past chapter — doesn’t mean failure. It means choosing alignment, health, and sustainability.
In my case, the choice to leave a toxic workplace and accept a 40% pay cut looked like going backwards. But it gave me the foundation for greater performance, promotions, and peace of mind. What looked like failure to others was actually progress.
So if you’re facing a tough decision, remember: sometimes the bravest move you can make is the one that looks like a step back. It’s not shameful. It’s not failure. It’s strategy.
Your life. Your career. Your rules.
Zeta Yarwood is recognised as a leading Career Coach and NLP Life Coach in Dubai, helping individuals across the world to achieve success in all areas of their lives. With a degree in Psychology and over 10 years’ experience in coaching, management and recruitment – working for multinational companies and award-winning recruitment firms – Zeta is an expert in unlocking human potential. Passionate about helping people discover their strengths, talents and motivation, Zeta lives to inspire others to dream big and create the life and career they really want.
For further information and inspiration, please visit www.zetayarwood.com or follow on Twitter @zetayarwood, Linkedin or Facebook
