Lost the Love?

I had a fascinating conversation with a client recently about the tension between what she 'could', 'should', and 'would like' to do.

It’s something I’m hearing more and more: high-achievers waking up one day to find that success just isn’t enough when satisfaction is lagging.

Frustratingly, sometimes getting to the top of your field may not ultimately be a good match for your evolving interests and motivators.

This client reflected that after years of study, excellence in her profession and a great financial position, she starting to find her work draining. She then began to dread it, then resent it. To top it off, she also felt deeply guilty for wanting something different.

On paper everything should have been fine, but it just wasn't. She was stuck doing what she 'could' and 'should' do, rather than what she really wanted to do.

It's not a pleasant experience and can be extremely confronting to feel trapped by your own success. It's also something that can't be ignored as it slowly eats away at your satisfaction and performance.

The good news is that it doesn't necessarily mean that you have to jump ship or make a drastic change.

I've found many times that work can be re-designed to satisfy you again, it just takes a fresh look at the context and possibilities to forge a new way of working that suits the next version of you.

Start by identifying one thing that you currently find most draining or frustrating. How can you reduce, remove or reshape this element of your day?

Then move onto the next, then the next...before you know it your weeks will start to light you up again.

It helps to have a colleague, coach or mentor to help with this and keep you accountable to the incremental changes that will serve your future self.

I absolutely love helping people to get their groove back, so please reach out if you would like to chat about how I can help.