Ready For A Career Change? Start with Your Why, Align With Your Values, Find Clarity Now
If you’re here, something inside you knows it’s time for change.
Maybe the work you’re doing no longer lights you up. Maybe it never did. Maybe you’re waking up with that familiar ache in your chest—the one that say’s, there’s more to life than this. And maybe you’re terrified, too. Because what comes next feels uncertain, unstructured, and overwhelming.
I’ve been there. I was in a career that I JUST KNEW wasn’t a good fit for me. But I put off making a change because I lived with debilitating scarcity.
If this is you, take a deep breath. You’re not broken or stuck. You’re ready to re-imagine and re-align moving foward. On the other side of this moment is the possibility of a career—and a life—built on clarity, meaning, and joy—not necessarily purpose, but we’ll come back to that.
This isn’t about blowing up your life overnight. It’s about beginning a thoughtful, brave journey toward something that truly reflects who you are.
Let’s walk through what that can look like. Grab a pen and paper or open your note taking app.
Step 1: Start with Your Why
Before diving into resumes or job boards, pause and ask:
Why do I want to make a change?
Is it because I’m burned out? Underpaid? Disconnected from my values?
Or is it because something inside me is ready to expand, evolve, or express more of who I really am?
This ‘why’ will become your anchor. Without it, you’ll chase surface-level fixes in different forms that will keep you in a loop that goes nowhere you want.
With your ‘why’, your path begins to clarify.
✨ Reflection
Brain dump answers to the above questions, then answer, “What do I want more of in my next chapter—and what do I want less of?”
Step 2: Get Clear on Your Career Values
Values are your inner compass. When you’re misaligned with them, you’ll feel the friction. When you’re in alignment, you’ll feel flow.
Feedback from one of my clients: “Through our sessions, I’ve gained clarity by reconnecting with my core values, which helped me understand the root of my procrastination and build more confidence in my decisions. I now feel more grounded, focused, and aligned in how I’m moving forward. I’m approaching things with more bravery and ease because I trust myself more”
What lights me up?
When do I feel most like myself?
What feels non-negotiable in the way I live and work?
Whether it’s creativity, freedom, nature, service, community, or adventure—your values will guide the kind of environments, industries, or roles you’ll thrive in.
Think about a time when you felt most fulfilled or energized in your work.
What made it meaningful?
If you’ve never felt fulfilled, imagine what fulfillment might look like, and jot that down.
What aspects of a work environment are most important to you—not just physical, but emotional? (Examples: collaboration, autonomy, stability, calm)
If someone asked you at a dinner party what you did for a living, what words or a phrase would make you proud to describe your work?
✨ Reflection
Answer the above questions
Now, based on your above reflections, write a list of what you value in your work. Aim for at least 10.
(Examples: creativity, leadership, community, service to others, growth, autonomy, trust)
Narrow it down to 4-5: Consider these questions before you begin
Which of these values are non-negotiable in my life?
If I had to choose between two, which one feels more essential?
How do these values show up in my daily decisions?
Step 3: Notice the Gaps (Especially the Internal Ones)
Sometimes, the biggest barriers to change aren’t external—they’re internal.
They show up as:
“I’m not qualified enough.”
“It’s too late to start over.”
“No one would hire someone like me.”
These are limiting beliefs, not truths.
They often come from old stories, past wounds, or inherited ideas about what’s “realistic.” If you don’t name them, they’ll quietly shape your decisions and keep you playing small.
✨ Try this:
Write down a limiting belief you’ve been carrying. Examples: “I am scared of change.” “I don’t know what’s on the other side, and it’s too scary.” “I may run out of money.”
Then ask: Is this 100% true? What if it’s not true, and my dreams are on the other side of this fear? What might be more true now?
You don’t have to fix everything before you start. You just need to be aware of the voice inside you, learn how to reframe your fear, and move forward. Fear won’t necessarily go away, but you learn to do the thing with fear coming along for the ride—however, it’s in the backseat, not driving.
I’ve been here. I believed if I changed careers, I wouldn’t have money and would have to rely on others—something I had never had to do before.
Step 4: Pursue What’s in Your Heart
“Pursue what’s in your heart, and the universe will conspire to support you.” – Rich Roll
This isn’t about magical thinking—it’s about alignment.
When you pursue what’s truly in your heart, you start to notice synchronicities. The right people show up. The right opportunities become visible. That’s not luck—it’s clarity meeting action.
Here’s where we need to talk about the elephant in the room and check in on a few things first… Are your basic needs being met—food, shelter, and the essentials to support a healthy mind and body?
If you're not in a position to quit your job right now—and taking on debt to fully pursue your next values-aligned career doesn't feel right—you can still move toward the life and work your heart is calling for.
The path might look a little unconventional or scrappy at first, but that doesn’t mean it’s not possible. You can start right where you are, with what you have, and take meaningful steps toward the career and life you truly want.
Give yourself permission to want what you want. Even if it doesn’t make sense yet. Especially if it doesn’t make sense yet.
I’ve been here. I was unsure of whether I was on the right path as a life and career coach, but the more energy, time, and dedication I put into it, the more I realized I was indeed on the right path—it began unfolding in ways that felt very aligned.
Step 5: Take One Brave, Imperfect Step
Clarity doesn’t come from thinking—it comes from doing.
Don’t wait until you have the whole plan. Start small and aligned with your values.
Reach out to someone doing work that inspires you—ask them questions—buy them a coffee
Volunteer, shadow, or freelance in an area you're curious about
Join a community aligned with your interests
Update your LinkedIn with the direction you're heading, not just where you've been
Every small step builds momentum. Action quiets doubt. And clarity grows through motion.
I’ve been here. The first step I took was telling the world that I was a coach on social media. I got my first paid client the next week. It was the most satisfying $50 I have ever earned.
Step 6: Build a Support System
Career change is vulnerable work. You’ll need people who believe in you, mirror your brilliance back to you, and help you stay accountable when fear creeps in.
Support can look like:
A coach, mentor, and therapist (the winning trio!)
A peer in transition who gets it
A values-aligned community
A journal practice that keeps you connected to your truth
You don’t have to do this alone. And you weren’t meant to.
I’ve been here! My first step was finding a therapist, then a coach, and surrounding myself with friends and my husband—who believed in me!
Tips to Keep You Grounded Along the Way
Stay curious: Your path may not be linear. That’s okay. Let curiosity guide you.
Detach from titles: Focus on what you want to feel and do, not just job labels.
Celebrate small wins: Every email sent, insight gained, or fear faced is progress.
Keep coming back to your values: They’re your North Star when things feel murky.
Be kind to yourself: You’re breaking old patterns and creating something new.
Remember, failure is feedback, and is crucial for gaining clarity on your path forward. Don’t let failure stop you!
Final Reflection Questions to Help You Gain Clarity
What would I pursue if I fully trusted that I’m capable and supported?
What parts of me have been waiting to be expressed in my work?
What environments bring out my best self?
Where am I holding back—and what might I be afraid of?
What is one bold step I could take this month?
What is one thing I can consider removing from my life that does not support my path forward?
You're Not Lost—You're Becoming
This chapter of your life isn’t about “starting over.”
It’s about returning to yourself—your gifts, your voice, your inside truth—and finding work that reflects it.
Yes, it might be messy.
Yes, there might be fear.
But underneath all of that is a quiet knowing: You are meant for more than tolerating your life.
So trust the pull.
Follow the spark.
And take the next brave step. The rest will meet you there.
If you're navigating this journey and want guidance, support, or clarity—I’d love to help. This is the work I do: I help compassionate, open-minded professionals who are unclear or conflicted about their current career path—and life— move forward with clarity, confidence, and aligned action rooted in their values and who they truly are. Reach out anytime. You don’t have to figure it all out alone. 💛
