Finding Clarity When Your Work Life Isn’t Working
By Kathryn Davis - Greenville Counseling Associates
Arthur Brooks outlines four pillars of a fulfilling life: family, friendship, work, and faith. All of them matter—but in this reflection, we’re focusing on work. Because when your work life isn’t working, it affects everything else. In 2024, employee engagement in the U.S. fell to its lowest level in a decade, with only 31% of employees feeling engaged in their work. “Actively engaged employees” dropped 2 percentage points since 2023, revealing a trend of increasing vocational detachment. Even after the wave of soul-searching that followed the Great Resignation—a season in 2021 and 2022 when millions of Americans left their jobs—it’s clear that many people still feel stuck, drained, or unsure of what they’re moving toward. This next chapter has been called “The Great Reshuffle,” marked by a continued search for work that feels more aligned, meaningful, and sustainable.
Because deep down we know:
We are wired for meaning.
For purpose.
For work that reflects who we are.
When our work life is misaligned with our God-given design, we feel it—emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. It can show up as anxiety, depression, frustration, or even numbness. As Viktor Frankl wrote in Man’s Search for Meaning, our deepest human motivation isn’t pleasure—it’s meaning. In fact, we’re most tempted to numb and distract ourselves when our life lacks meaning. And one way our life holds meaning is when what we do flows from who we are (John Mark Comer).
You’ve probably heard the phrase, “You’re not a human doing… you’re a human being.” But the truth is, you can’t separate the two. Doing has always flowed from being—it’s been woven into our design from the very beginning (see Genesis 1–2). We often feel stuck or frustrated when there’s a lack of alignment—when there’s a disconnect between our identity, calling, and how we spend our days.
Is It Time to Pay Attention to Your Frustration?
If something feels off in your work life—if you’re sensing discontent or wondering what’s next—you’re not alone.
That discomfort might actually be an invitation:
To pause.
To pay attention.
To move toward deeper alignment.
Maybe you’re…
In a role you chose to meet others’ expectations, but you’re no longer sure it fits you
In your 20s, trying to launch into adulthood but feeling lost
A recent promotee realizing the new role is draining you
A ministry or company leader quietly burning out
A mom who’s been working within the home but sensing a pull toward something new
John Ortberg writes, “Healthy things grow. Growing things change.” It’s normal—and good—to change over time. And sometimes, as we grow, our work life needs to grow with us. That doesn’t always mean changing jobs. It might mean shifting how you use your gifts within your current role, adjusting the environment or expectations of your work, or simply seeing it through a new lens. The important thing is to slow down long enough to notice what’s stirring beneath the surface and find the clarity you need to help you move forward.
Perhaps Your Frustration Is Whispering:
You’ve outgrown your current role
Your gifts aren’t being fully used
You’re longing for more creativity, freedom, or meaning
Your job is good—but it’s not your best work
A new season is beginning
Something needs to shift
I’ve been there, too. And my instinct has often been to over-function—consuming every podcast, book, and personality or career test I could find, hoping clarity would come from “out there.” Career assessments can be helpful—but they only offer one angle on what might be true for you. Real clarity comes from the inside out.
Start Here: Three Questions for Vocational Clarity
You are not a generic puzzle piece. You’re a uniquely designed person with a story worth listening to. The best clarity comes not from algorithms or job titles, but from deeper reflection—alongside God and trusted voices in your life. If you’re unsure where to begin, here are three questions to help you step into more clarity:
1. Who are you? (Write out your story, wiring, strengths, personality, and values/faith)
2. Where are you? (Name your life stage, current capacity, context, and constraints)
3. What do you want? (Describe your hopes, desires, and vision for more aligned, life-giving work)
You don’t need all the answers today. Just write what’s clear now.
If this resonates with you, know you’re not alone—and you don’t have to figure it out alone either. Sometimes the next right step is simply naming what’s not working and getting curious about what might be possible. If you’re in a season of vocational unrest, consider it a nudge—an invitation to reflect, realign, and reimagine. Then consider inviting someone into the process with you—whether that’s a trusted friend, coworker, your counselor, or even a vocation guide who can help you explore what aligned work might look like in your next chapter. When your work flows from the truth of who you are, you begin to live and lead with greater clarity, freedom, and impact. Your unique contribution creates ripples of purpose and flourishing—in the lives of others, and in your own life, too.
Citations