Should I reset my career ambition?

I left a corporate job after getting pretty burned out, and honestly one of the biggest surprises was how much better my overall life got afterward. My friendships got stronger, my health and fitness improved, and I felt way more present in my relationships.

I’ve spent some time thinking about what I actually want long term. I still like meaningful work, smart people, learning, and building things. I’m not someone who wants to do nothing. I’ve also worked for over twenty years so I’m in a good position financially. But I’ve realized I don’t really miss the corporate ladder the way I thought I would.

I always found the politics and constant pressure exhausting, even when I was doing well on paper. Part of me thinks I’d probably be happier in a smaller consulting-type role with more autonomy and balance. But another part of me worries I’m making decisions from fear because my last environment was unhealthy. I’m also finding the job market tough for bigger corporate roles at the moment.

I guess I’m struggling with whether this is genuine growth/self-awareness, or whether I’m quietly shrinking my ambitions and calling it “balance.”

Has anyone else gone through this?