If you’ve ever considered a career change as a lawyer—shifting to a different practice area, leaving the firm, exploring something new—you’ve likely experienced the inner tug-of-war that follows.

One voice says: “This is unsustainable. I can’t keep going like this.”

Another whispers: “But what if I regret leaving? What if this is as good as it gets?

Another says: “What if I just need to keep pushing through?”

Then another chimes in: “Think of how this will look. What will people say?”

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

This is a normal, healthy psyche at work.

You’re meeting your internal protectors—the parts of you that are doing everything in their power to keep you safe, based on their limited perspective.

The Parts That Speak Up When Lawyers Consider Change
In True Purpose, Tim Kelly shares “Your personality is composed of different sub-personalities…[like] little people living inside your head.”

Each part has a role. Each one developed to protect you—often from old wounds you may not consciously remember. But when you’re at a turning point in your career or considering a change, they start weighing in.

Change is scary to your protectors. They prefer the known to the unknown, the familiar to the unfamiliar, even if the known and familiar are draining. From their perspective, at least you’re “safe.”

And the result? Confusion. Self-doubt. Analysis paralysis.

Let me introduce you to a few of the most common protectors (inspired by Tim Kelly’s book, True Purpose):

The Risk-Avoider
This part prides itself on being practical. It wants you to stay put because it perceives the status quo as predictable and, therefore, safe. It’s the one asking: “How will you pay your bills? What if this new path doesn’t work out? Are you really going to take a pay cut?”

The Critic
This one holds the highest standards and is terrified of you making a mistake. It says: “What if you’re not qualified to do anything else? What if you fail? Maybe others can get paid to do work they love but that’s not possible for you.”

The Image Consultant
This part keeps tabs on how you’re perceived. It’s deeply concerned with reputation and status. It wonders: “What will your colleagues think? Will people assume you ‘couldn’t hack it’ in law?”

The Skeptic
The doubter of the bunch. It’s wary of new perspectives and alternative paths. It’ll say: “People say ‘follow your purpose,’ but is that even real? What does that even mean?”

And at the core? The Wounded Child
This is the sensitive part of you that remembers the pain of feeling rejected, criticized, left out, judged, or not good enough. All the other parts are trying to protect this young part from feeling that pain again, but these protectors may not be as essential as they were when you were younger and less resourced. They may be keeping you from creating the career you truly want.

So What Do You Do With These Parts?
You don’t ignore, suppress, resist, or battle them.

Instead—you listen.

You get curious. You build a relationship with each part. You ask:

What are you trying to protect me from?
When did you first take on this role?
What do you need from me to trust that I’ll be okay?

When we bring awareness and compassion to these parts, something incredible happens:

They relax. They trust you more. They let you move forward.

Courage Isn’t the Absence of These Voices. It’s Partnership With Them.
Making a courageous career choice, whatever that means for you, is about understanding the internal system that developed to keep you safe.

When you get to know your parts, your next steps become clearer. Not because the fear disappears—but because you’re no longer letting it drive your decisions.

And that’s the beginning of freedom.

If you’re ready for more, download my free Career Alignment Map for lawyers to help you design a career that aligns with who you truly are and what you truly want.

In your corner,
Jessie