Have you ever felt stuck in your career? You’ve worked hard, earned the title, got the success on paper... yet something still feels off. There’s that quiet voice inside that keeps whispering, “This isn’t it.”
That voice? It’s a signal. A sign that what you really need isn’t another title or promotion—it’s career clarity.
Here’s the thing: it’s easy to get wrapped up in our job titles. After a while, we start thinking that who we are is defined by what we do. The idea of changing paths—especially after investing years into a career—feels impossible, right?
But what if letting go of your title didn’t mean starting over? What if it was actually the key to redefining yourself and finally aligning your work with your passions and purpose?
I’ve seen it happen, and I’ve experienced it myself. The journey starts with curiosity—the willingness to ask, “What if?” and the courage to explore new possibilities.
Key Takeaways:
-
Career clarity is the secret to knowing when it’s time for a career transition—and why it’s the right move.
-
Letting go of job titles opens the door to redefining your professional identity in a way that feels more meaningful (and true to you).
-
The path to career clarity? It starts with curiosity—and the courage to explore new opportunities that align with your passions.
-
When you release your grip on titles, you create space to find fulfilling work that taps into your true strengths and purpose.
What is Career Clarity?
Career clarity is more than just figuring out your next move—it’s about getting crystal clear on what truly lights you up. It means knowing exactly what kind of work not only makes you happy but also aligns with your values, skills, and strengths. It’s about more than a paycheck or a title—it’s discovering a role where you feel energized and fulfilled.
Because when your career aligns with who you are, it doesn’t just feel like work anymore. It feels like purpose.
Recognizing When It’s Time for a Career Transition
Lisa Woods, an insightful and deeply reflective spiritual life coach, shared a powerful story on the Career Clarity Unlocked podcast in the episode “Discover Yourself Beyond Your Job Title.” After years of excelling in executive leadership—where her thoughtful guidance made a real impact—Lisa reached a moment of truth. The work she had poured so much into?
It just wasn’t lighting her up anymore.
Instead of pushing through or ignoring that feeling, Lisa made the bold decision to step back. She realized that after years of giving the same advice over and over, it was time for fresh voices and new perspectives to emerge. She knew something had to shift. So, what did she do? She gave herself permission to explore new interests, dive into her creativity, and even spend a year writing poetry—creating the mental space for a new chapter in her life.
Catch the latest Career Clarity Unlocked episode with Lisa Woods and Theresa White
Shifting from Titles to Identity
In 2021, Lisa’s spiritual teacher posed a simple yet powerful question: "What else do you want to do?" That moment of reflection sparked something deep inside her. It led her to discover spiritual life coaching—and it felt like an instant, undeniable yes. This wasn’t just about walking away from her professional identity; it was about evolving it. She shifted from chasing titles and roles defined by others to pursuing something more personal and meaningful. She found true fulfillment by aligning her work with her calling.
If you’ve ever felt that same pull, that quiet voice nudging you toward something different, listen. Your title doesn’t define you. It never did. The contributions you’ve made, the skills you’ve honed, the experiences you’ve gathered—they’re all a part of who you are. But guess what? There’s always room to grow. Always space to evolve. You can find new ways to express your talents that align with who you are now—not who you used to be.
Letting Go of the Ego and Titles
One of the hardest parts of making a career shift is letting go of the attachment to your job title and the recognition that comes with it. So many of us are tied to the sense of validation and security that comes from being known for something specific.
It’s the ego talking—the part of you that says, “You’ve worked so hard for this title. Why would you give it up?” That voice clings to the familiar, afraid of what’s on the other side. But letting go of your title isn’t about throwing away everything you’ve accomplished. It’s about giving yourself permission to evolve into something more aligned with who you truly are.
It’s not about losing anything—it’s about gaining clarity.
When you let go, you create space for your work to reflect your values, your passions, and your purpose. Titles can change, but who you are at your core? That’s where the real fulfillment comes from.
Why Letting Go Leads to finding Fulfilling Work
When Lisa Woods transitioned into spiritual life coaching, one of the most profound lessons she learned was the power of letting go—specifically, letting go of her attachment to control and recognition. As a coach, her role shifted from being the one with all the answers to someone who could hold space for others to discover their own. This wasn’t just a change in job—it was a transformation in how she approached her work and her relationships.
Lisa had to release the need to be seen as the expert or authority figure. Instead, she focused on empowering others, guiding them to find their own insights and breakthroughs. This shift wasn’t easy—it meant letting go of the comfort that comes with being the one in charge and stepping into a role where she simply supported and listened.
But that’s where the real magic happened.
Lisa reflected on this journey, recognizing how deeply it transformed her—not just as a coach, but as a person. She moved from leading the way to creating space for others to grow, evolve, and thrive. This wasn’t just a career change. It was a whole new way of connecting—with herself and with those she worked with.
In letting go, she found a deeper sense of purpose and fulfillment. Because when you stop clinging to control, you create space for what truly matters to flow in.
Opening New Opportunities Through Career Clarity
What happens when you finally let go of those titles you’ve been clinging to? Simple—you create space for something bigger. Suddenly, the roles that resonate with your values, passions, and strengths start to reveal themselves.
And here’s the best part: these roles are perfectly aligned with the real you. They’re not just jobs—they’re opportunities that light you up inside.
The more you align with your true self, the more doors open. Career clarity acts like a magnet, pulling in the roles that actually fit, roles that feel meaningful and aligned with your purpose.
So, why hold on to something that no longer serves you? When you let go, you make space for something so much better.
Reframing Job Titles for Career Alignment
Let’s talk about job titles. Tricky, right? On one hand, they represent roles we’ve worked hard to achieve. But on the other hand? They can box us in, keeping us stuck in one version of ourselves.
Take Lisa, for example. For years, she thrived in leadership and consulting roles—doing important work in areas like policy and project management. But when she decided to make a shift, she realized she had to step away from being defined by job titles. So, what did she do? She leaned into the parts of her work that truly resonated—coaching, mentoring, and advising. By focusing on what really lit her up, she was able to break free from the limitations of a title and explore new opportunities that were more aligned with her true self.
Because in the end, it’s not the title that defines us—it’s the work that makes us come alive.
How to Career Clarity Through Your Strengths
When Lisa took the Sparketype™ Assessment, it revealed something powerful: her Primary Sparketype™ was the Advisor, meaning she thrived on coaching, mentoring, and guiding others. No wonder these were the parts of her job that energized her! Her identity wasn’t tied to a title—it was tied to what made her come alive.
For Lisa, it was those core strengths—advising, mentoring, and coaching—that gave her work meaning. So, when she transitioned into life coaching, it didn’t feel like a complete reinvention. She wasn’t starting from scratch; she was simply applying what already made her feel alive in a new way.
This is something I see all the time with clients. We often think our identity is locked to our job title, but when you break it down, it’s the strengths and the spark behind your work that truly matter. If you’re feeling stuck in a role that’s limiting or unfulfilling, ask yourself: What do I actually enjoy about my work? And how can I take those strengths and use them in a different way?
Reframing it this way lets you pivot without feeling like you’re starting over. You’re not throwing away your experience—you’re repurposing it in a way that aligns more closely with who you truly are.
Ready to repurpose your skills and pivot into a fulfilling career? Grab my FREE Transferable Skills Guide today
Exploring Identity Beyond the Job Title
Once you’ve reframed your professional identity, it’s like the world opens up. Suddenly, the possibilities for growth and change feel endless. It’s about taking the core of what you love and exploring how that can show up in different environments. This is where curiosity steps in and does its magic.
Think about it—if you’ve spent your career advising, coaching, or mentoring, that’s who you are, not just what you do. Those skills don’t disappear just because you leave a certain role. They’re part of you, and they can be applied in ways you might not have even considered before. New industries? New roles? Opportunities you never imagined? All of them become possible when you realize your talents go far beyond a single title.
One of the most powerful "aha!" moments I’ve seen is when people stop thinking, “I have to stick with this one thing for the rest of my life.” Instead, they start seeing the threads of what truly energizes them, and they begin to weave those threads into new opportunities. It’s liberating.
And here’s the best part: you don’t have to follow a linear path. You can take what makes you come alive and find ways to do it in different spaces. Maybe it’s working in a brand-new field, launching your own business, or finding a hybrid role that blends all your passions. The possibilities? They’re endless when you’re open to them.
Curiosity as a Guide for Career Transitions
Curiosity isn’t just a passing thought—it’s your intuition sending you a message. That quiet nudge, that “What if?” isn’t random. It’s your inner voice guiding you toward something that matters. And the more you learn to follow that curiosity, the sharper your intuition becomes.
For Lisa, following her curiosity led her to spiritual life coaching. She had always been drawn to personal growth and spirituality, but it wasn’t until she gave herself the space to explore that she realized just how deeply it resonated with her. Once she began researching coaching, everything started to fall into place, and she felt an undeniable pull in that direction.
Curiosity often shows up quietly—it doesn't always shout for your attention. But when you honor it—when you follow it—it can lead to the most significant changes in your life.
So, when that spark of curiosity hits, don’t brush it aside. Ask yourself: Why am I feeling drawn to this? What could it be showing me? If you’re curious about something, it’s for a reason. Following that thread sharpens your intuition and reveals new opportunities you might have overlooked.
So, I want you to trust your curiosity. It’s not just a passing thought—it’s your intuition showing you the way forward. Follow it, and see where it leads.
Curiosity Leading to New Possibilities
Let’s be honest—following your curiosity isn’t always easy. Our minds love to throw up obstacles: “You’re not good enough for that job,” “Your skills are too niche,” “You don’t have enough experience,” or the classic “You’ll never make it in that field.” Sound familiar?
Instead of letting those doubts run the show, you can flip the script by approaching them with curiosity. Start asking yourself: “Why do I feel this way? Is this even true?” Curiosity gives you the chance to step back and challenge those limiting beliefs, creating space for you to see beyond them.
In my career clarity coaching, I always encourage clients to ask these kinds of questions. When you give yourself permission to wonder instead of judge, something shifts. You stop boxing yourself in, and you start exploring what’s possible—without the constant fear of failing.
Sure, it takes practice, but over time, your curiosity becomes your compass. It guides you away from self-doubt and toward new opportunities and adventures you may never have considered before.
Join now and transform your career journey!
Finding Fulfillment Through Alignment
When your work aligns with who you really are, everything shifts. It’s like flipping a switch. Suddenly, what you do feels energizing—it actually matters. You’re not just punching a clock or checking boxes—you’re living with purpose. And let’s be honest, isn’t that what we all want?
Now, here’s the catch: you’ve got to let go of that title you’ve been clinging to. When you finally stop defining yourself by a label and let curiosity lead the way, you open up a whole new world. A world full of possibilities. It’s not just about climbing the ladder anymore—it’s about doing work that actually fulfills you.
So, what lights you up? What if you stopped shutting down every idea that crossed your mind and actually followed your curiosity? Where could you end up if you let your gut and intuition drive, instead of fear or the need for approval from others?
These aren’t just casual questions—they’re life-changing ones. The kind of questions that, if you answer honestly, can shift the entire course of your career—and your life.
Because the truth is, when your work aligns with what fuels your energy and joy, it stops feeling like a burden. It becomes a natural extension of who you are. And that? That’s where true fulfillment begins.
Curiosity and Career Clarity
Curiosity is the ultimate tool for career exploration. It’s like a compass—pointing you directly toward what lights you up and makes you feel alive. But here’s the problem: we’ve been conditioned to push it aside. We’re told to think in practical terms—What pays the most? What’s secure? What’s prestigious?
But what if you flipped the script? What if you actually followed your curiosity instead of playing it safe?
That’s exactly what Lisa did. She was curious about spiritual life coaching, and instead of ignoring that pull, she leaned into it. After stepping away from her previous career, she gave herself the space to reflect. And you know what happened? Coaching resonated with her immediately. That intuitive pull, fueled by curiosity, led her straight down a path that aligned perfectly with her core values and strengths.
Curiosity as Your Career Compass
Curiosity doesn’t demand a dramatic, all-or-nothing leap. You don’t have to quit your job tomorrow (unless you’re ready to!). Instead, start small. Explore on the side—volunteer, take a course, or dive into research on something that sparks your interest.
It’s about giving yourself permission to explore without the pressure of having everything mapped out perfectly. No need for a flawless plan. Curiosity is about freedom—the freedom to experiment and see where that nudge leads.
Following your curiosity doesn’t have to be a big, bold decision all at once. Sometimes, it’s those small steps and tiny pivots that bring you closer to what truly lights you up. That little spark might just be the compass guiding you toward the next big chapter of your life.
Let Go of Perfection and Embrace Growth
Perfection is the biggest roadblock in any career transition. We convince ourselves that we need everything mapped out perfectly before making a move. But spoiler alert—that’s not how growth works. Growth is messy. It happens through exploring, stumbling, learning, and adjusting as you go.
Lisa’s journey is a powerful reminder: stepping into something new doesn’t mean having all the answers. It’s about letting go of your ego, ditching the fear of failure, and giving yourself permission to evolve. She didn’t step into life coaching as someone who had it all figured out. She stepped in ready to learn, grow, and hold space for others to do the same. And that’s the kind of mindset that makes all the difference when you’re transitioning careers.
So, don’t wait until you feel “ready.” Start now. Take small steps toward what excites you. You don’t need to see the whole path today—just move toward what lights you up, and you’ll carve out a path that feels authentic and fulfilling.
Cultivating Trust in Yourself
One of the hardest but most crucial steps in any career transition? Trusting your intuition. If you’ve spent years leaning on logic, data, and external validation to make decisions, it’s no wonder tuning into your inner voice feels like foreign territory. But once you start trusting your instincts, the path forward becomes a lot clearer. Your intuition is a powerful guide, one that knows you far better than any job title or outside opinion ever could. It leads you toward work that makes you come alive.
Now, let’s be real—trusting yourself isn’t always easy. We’re trained to seek out data and validation from others. But listening to your intuition is about creating space for you—quieting the noise, practicing mindfulness, and tuning in to what you really want.
This doesn’t mean rushing into decisions or ignoring practicalities. It’s about letting your intuition guide the process alongside logic. When you start trusting yourself, you’ll notice that the right opportunities—the ones that align with who you are—start to fall into place.
Building a New Vision of Success
One of the most liberating parts of Lisa’s story? She completely redefined what success meant to her. For years, success was tied to her title, the accolades, and the outward recognition she received. But as she shifted into coaching, she discovered a deeper truth: success wasn’t about climbing higher—it was about living in alignment with her purpose, helping others, and feeling fulfilled by the work she was doing, no matter the external praise.
Now it’s your turn. As you navigate your own career path, ask yourself: What does success really mean for me? Is it about reaching the next rung on the corporate ladder? Or is it about doing work that brings you joy and meaning? Maybe it’s a mix of both. Or maybe it’s something entirely different.
The point is—you get to decide. It’s time to stop letting society’s expectations define your vision of success. Because success, at its core, isn’t about what the world tells you to achieve—it’s about how aligned you feel with the life and work you create for yourself.
Taking the Next Step
Feeling stuck? Unfulfilled in your current role? It’s time to remember one thing—you have the power to change course. It all starts with one bold decision: giving yourself permission to explore. To let go of the title or identity that’s been holding you back and follow your curiosity into uncharted territory.
Take small steps. Explore what excites you. And most importantly, trust that you are capable of building a career that not only aligns with your values and passions, but energizes you in ways you didn’t even think were possible.
Your next opportunity? It might not look like anything you’ve done before. It could be something completely unexpected—something that speaks directly to your deepest strengths and passions.
But here’s the thing: if you give yourself the space to explore and stay open to possibility, your career can become so much more than a job title. It can become a true reflection of who you are.
So, what’s your next step? What are you curious about today? Embrace it. Follow it. And let it lead you to the next chapter of your career—and your life.
FAQs About Career Clarity During Career Transitions
What Are The Proven Steps to Gain Career Clarity?
Gaining career clarity starts with understanding what truly energizes and excites you. To do this, take time to reflect on what aspects of your work drain you and what tasks light you up and make you feel alive. Tools like the Sparketype Assessment or exercises to reflect on your values, skills, and interests, can help you pinpoint what sparks your passion.
Once you’re clear on what energizes you, envision a career where you get to do those things the majority of the time. What does that dream job look like? After defining this, you can then map out actionable steps to achieve that goal. Working with a career clarity coach can be invaluable in this process, as they can help you see strengths and skills you might overlook, and guide you in translating your self-discovery into a realistic and fulfilling career path.
How can I overcome fear during a career transition?
Fear during a career transition is completely normal, and in fact, it's a sign you're stepping out of your comfort zone. Our brains are wired to prefer the familiar, even if it's unfulfilling, which is why change triggers that "danger" signal.
But fear isn’t something to ignore or push away—it’s there to protect you. Instead of letting it hold you back, try listening to what your fear is really about. Is it fear of losing stability? Fear of failure? Once you understand its message, you can balance that fear with your desire for more fulfillment, growth, and success. By acknowledging both your fear and your longing for change, you can make practical, thoughtful steps forward that honor both parts of you.
About Author
After years of feeling unfulfilled in my career and not knowing what I’m meant to do or how to find it without starting over... I finally figured out what I'm here to do! And found a career that makes me excited to wake up and go to work every day. And I know that one day, I'll look back on my career with joy and satisfaction, knowing that I did something that truly mattered.
How did I find it?
By getting crystal clear on what I'm meant to do.
Getting this clarity is easier than you think, and I love guiding my clients through the discovery process... and empowering them to find their ideal career.
Connect with me on LinkedIn, listen to the Career Clarity Unlocked Podcast, or schedule your free 30-minute career clarity consultation.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, true career fulfillment doesn’t come from clinging to titles or roles that no longer light you up—it comes from living in alignment with who you really are. Lisa’s journey reminds us all that growth, curiosity, and self-trust are the keys to unlocking your potential and creating a career that’s not just a job, but a reflection of your purpose.
You already know what sparks your curiosity. You already have that pull inside of you, nudging you toward something more meaningful. The only thing left is to give yourself permission to experiment, to follow those instincts, and to trust that you’re capable of creating a career that brings you joy, energy, and fulfillment.
So what if, today, you allowed yourself to explore without needing all the answers? What if you trusted what you already know deep down? The opportunities waiting for you are bigger than a title—they’re the life-changing moments that happen when you stop holding yourself back and step into what you’re truly capable of.
Your next chapter is waiting. All it takes is the courage to begin.
Resources:
- Why is career clarity important?
- how to make a midlife career change
- Which Transferable Skills Make Candidates Stand Out?
- Career Clarity Unlocked Podcast
- Catch the latest Career Clarity Unlocked episode with Lisa Woods and Theresa White: Discover Yourself Beyond Your Job Title
- Ready to repurpose your skills and pivot into a fulfilling career? Grab my FREE Transferable Skills Guide today and start your journey!
👉 Ready for career clarity in record time? Request a free consultation with me today.
