Have you ever wondered why some people seem genuinely energised by their work, while others feel drained, stuck, or just going through the motions?

I believe the difference often comes down to Whether your career aligns with your personal values.

When what you do each day connects to what matters most to you, work becomes more than a way to pay the bills. It feels purposeful. It feels like you’re contributing to something bigger. And it can create a sense of fulfilment that simply earning an income can’t replace.

“Working hard for something we don’t care about is called stress. Working hard for something we love is called passion.”        (Simon Sinek, Leaders Eat Last)

Why Purpose and Values Matter

When your values and your work are out of alignment, you might feel:

• Constantly drained, even if the work is “easy”
• Unmotivated to progress or learn
• Disconnected from why you’re doing it

Motivational leaders around the world teach that living a purposeful life starts with aligning your work and actions to your core values.  Many of the worlds most respected coaches agree when you align your career with your values, you unlock a deeper sense of purpose, energy, and fulfilment.

Tony Robbins helps people achieve personal and professional success through mindset and behaviour change. He often talks about how achieving external success without aligning to your core values leaves you feeling empty. Teaching that gaining clarity on your values is a foundational step to designing a meaningful and fulfilling life.

But when they are aligned, you get that feeling that your life and your contribution matter. It’s what gets you up in the morning. It creates drive, ambition, and joy.

Take a moment to think about what’s important to you.

When your day-to-day work reflects those values, it’s like turning on a light inside you. You don’t just do your job—you live it.

✨ Real-Life Example

A client I worked with had spent many years working in the corporate finance sector. From the outside, he looked successful, but inside he felt completely unfulfilled. He dreaded going to work and had no idea what he really wanted to do instead.

Through our career coaching sessions, he began to reflect on what mattered most to him. He discovered he was deeply passionate about connecting with people in the mental health space and sharing his own lived experience.

We explored ways he could turn this passion into a meaningful career. Over time, he realised that the challenges he’d faced weren’t something to hide—they were a source of strength, empathy, and purpose.

Today, he’s pursuing a path where he can support others on their mental health journeys. When he talks about this work, he lights up in a way he never did in finance.

This is the power of aligning your career with your values and your story—it transforms not only what you do, but how you feel about yourself and your life.

Ask yourself:

-What do you value most?

-What kind of work would feel meaningful to you?
-If you could design your career to reflect what you care about, what would you be doing?

-Do you value helping others?

-Do you care deeply about creativity and innovation?

-Is security and stability essential to your wellbeing?

-Do you feel alive when you’re solving problems or building relationships?

Because while earning an income is necessary, true fulfilment comes when you feel lit up by what you do.

Career coaching can help you gain clarity, confidence, and direction. If you’d like support exploring your values and creating a meaningful career, I’d love to guide you through your next career transition.

✨ Reach out for a free clarity chat.