There will always be a point in your life where you feel so down. You feel like the world is against you. You feel burnt out. You feel jaded.

You start questioning yourself — Is this what I really want? What is my purpose? What am I doing here? How can I get away? How can I fix this? How do I make it better? Endless questions running through your mind, and the only answer you want to hear is how to end the heartache, disappointment, and loss of motivation.

Living abroad can be exhausting. Just like in your home country, you will meet the same kinds of people, face similar challenges, and experience the same workplace politics. The only difference is that you are far from your comfort zone. You are far from the people who used to refill your energy.

Often at work, when you feel devalued or overlooked, you start thinking of giving up.

But before you do, pause.

Ask yourself:

1. Why did you start it?
Why did you leave home? Was it for better opportunities? For your family? For growth? For independence? For a dream you once prayed for?
Sometimes we forget our “why” because we are too focused on the current pain. Go back to your starting point. Remember the version of you who was brave enough to take that leap.

2. Is it always this way?
Has it truly been bad from the beginning? Or are you just in a difficult season? Not every hard moment means you chose the wrong path. Some chapters are simply tougher than others.

3. Or is it just because…
…you’re tired?
…you haven’t rested properly?
…you feel unappreciated today?
…you’re comparing your life to someone else’s highlight reel?
Sometimes what feels like a life crisis is actually exhaustion speaking. Burnout can distort your perspective. When you’re drained, everything looks darker than it really is.

4. Count your blessings.
You woke up today.
You have a job.
You are earning.
You are surviving in a foreign land, and that alone says something about your strength.
You’ve handled things before that you once thought you couldn’t survive. Don’t let one bad season erase all the progress you’ve made.

5. Is it worth giving up and walking away?
This is the hardest question. And only you can answer it honestly.
Sometimes walking away is necessary for your peace. But sometimes, staying and pushing through builds the resilience you didn’t know you had.

The key is not to react based on emotion alone. Reflect. Rest. Pray. Think clearly.

Living abroad is not just about the beautiful skyline photos and weekend travels. It’s about silent battles, homesickness, sacrifices, and growing up faster than you expected. It’s about learning to stand on your own feet when no one is there to catch you.

And if today feels heavy, allow yourself to feel it. But don’t decide your entire future on a temporary emotion.

You are not weak for feeling tired.
You are not ungrateful for wanting better.
You are not lost. You are just in the middle of becoming.

And maybe, just maybe, this is not the end of your story...
it’s just a difficult chapter.