Rs 42 LPA, Rs 18 lakh car, but zero self-worth? Why quitting changed everything for this corporate employee

Shivam Lakhanpal has sparked a raw and uncomfortable conversation online after opening up about what a high-paying corporate life did to his mental state. In a time when salary figures are often treated as the ultimate marker of success, his story cuts through the noise. A Rs 42 lakh package, a luxury car, and a career many aspire to did not bring pride or confidence. Instead, it left him questioning his worth. What followed after he quit surprised even him.

Shivam shared a video that begins with a stark declaration about leaving his Rs 42 LPA corporate job. He explains that walking away from that paycheck forced him to confront a truth he had been avoiding for years. For him, money stopped feeling like proof of value. Despite earning well, he felt smaller inside the office environment, constantly trying to please people, carefully choosing words, and behaving in ways he believed would help him climb the corporate ladder. That version of himself felt needy, insecure, and disconnected from who he really was.

According to Shivam, the moment the salary disappeared, something unexpected happened. With no money coming into his account, he felt freer than ever. He no longer answered to anyone or followed rules that didn’t make sense to him. The absence of financial security did not break him. Instead, it gave him a sense of ownership over his time and choices that he never felt while earning big.

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He also spoke about buying a car worth around Rs 18 lakh during his corporate stint. On paper, it was a reward for success. In reality, the first time he drove it to work, he felt undeserving. Sitting in a beautiful car while heading to an office where he felt insignificant made him uncomfortable. He questioned whether he had earned the right to enjoy what he owned. The car, instead of making him feel proud, highlighted how disconnected he felt from himself.


That feeling changed the day he quit. Shivam says that once he left the job, the same car felt different. He drove it with confidence and ownership, not because of speed or status, but because he finally felt aligned with his choices. The vehicle no longer symbolised a compromise or a role he was playing. It became something he truly owned, both materially and emotionally.

Through his video, Shivam Lakhanpal challenges the idea that income alone defines success or self-worth. His experience highlights how external markers like salary and assets can sometimes hide deep dissatisfaction. By stepping away from a life that looked perfect on paper, he found a version of himself that felt more grounded, confident, and real. His story has resonated with many who silently struggle behind impressive pay slips, reminding them that feeling whole matters as much as earning well.