There’s a particular kind of restlessness that sets in when you’ve become disconnected from your core passions.
You’re still showing up. You’re still doing the work. But somewhere in the routine and responsibility, the spark that once made it all feel meaningful… dims. You start to feel off. Unfulfilled. Like you’re doing everything right — but something’s still missing.
When you’re not connected to what truly energizes you, it doesn’t matter how impressive your title is, how kind your coworkers are, or how solid your performance reviews look. You’ll still feel like something inside you is shrinking.
That’s exactly what Annie, a VP of Development for a nonprofit in the media industry, was feeling when she came to coaching. She cared deeply about the mission. She was respected by her team. And yet — the fire was gone. The work she used to feel inspired by now felt like a checklist. Meetings felt heavy. Creativity was harder to come by. And she couldn’t remember the last time she ended a workday feeling lit up instead of worn down.
Through coaching, Annie realized she hadn’t lost her passion — she’d just stopped tending to it. She had been so focused on doing the work that she’d lost sight of why she cared in the first place.
Here’s how she began to reconnect — and how you can, too.
1. Reflect on When You Felt Most Energized
Annie’s Challenge: Annie couldn’t pinpoint when the disconnection started — she just knew she didn’t feel the same sense of drive and excitement she once did.
Why This Strategy Works: Passion leaves clues. When you look back on the moments when you felt fully alive in your work, you start to notice patterns — what you were doing, who you were with, what values were being honored.
How You Can Apply It:
- Set aside 10–15 minutes and ask yourself: ➤ When was the last time I felt energized by my work? ➤ What was I doing, and why did it feel so good?
- Think beyond tasks — look for themes: Were you building something? Teaching? Advocating? Creating? Connecting?
- Write down 3–5 moments when you felt proud and alive — then look for what they had in common
Example: Annie realized her passion wasn’t just in raising funds — it was in shaping powerful storytelling that moved people to action. That’s what made her feel purposeful. Once she saw that clearly, she began carving space in her role to do more of that.
2. Infuse Passion into Your Current Role — Intentionally
Annie’s Challenge: She assumed reconnecting with her passion would require a major career shift or personal reinvention — but in truth, she just needed to bring more of what she loved into her everyday work.
Why This Strategy Works: You don’t always need to overhaul your job to feel reconnected. Passion can often be woven back in through intention, small shifts, and purposeful realignment.
How You Can Apply It:
- Look at your week ahead and ask: Where can I add more of what I love?
- Volunteer for projects that align with what lights you up — even if they’re small.
- Reframe tasks by connecting them back to the bigger purpose that excites you.
Example: Annie began mentoring junior team members on mission-centered storytelling. It only took 30 minutes a week — but that simple act reminded her of her why and became a powerful source of energy and inspiration.
3. Check In with Yourself Regularly
Annie’s Challenge: She had gone so long without asking herself what she needed, she had become used to operating on autopilot.
Why This Strategy Works: Passion is a moving target — it evolves. Staying connected to what excites and inspires you requires regular reflection and recalibration.
How You Can Apply It:
- Create a monthly “passion check-in” with yourself: ➤ What gave me energy this month? ➤ What drained me? ➤ What do I want more of next month?
- Notice how your body responds — passion often shows up as excitement, focus, even joy.
- Don’t wait for burnout to take stock — use check-ins to stay aligned as you grow.
Example: Annie started setting a recurring 15-minute meeting on her calendar each month — just for herself. She called it her “spark session.” No to-do list. Just reflection, realignment, and asking: Am I still connected to what matters most?
Your Next Move: Make Space for What Moves You
You don’t need to reinvent your life to reconnect with your passion. But you do need to pause long enough to listen to it.
✓ Reflect on when you’ve felt most alive in your work
✓ Bring those moments forward into your current role — intentionally and consistently
✓ Create space to check in with yourself, so passion doesn’t get buried under productivity
Annie didn’t need to start over. She just needed to start tuning back in.
And so do you.
Your passion isn’t gone — it’s waiting for you to notice it again.
🎯 Take my FREE Fuel Finder Quiz to see if your work aligns with what energizes you. Take it here.
🚀 Ready to go deeper? Take the Hello Inner Genius Passions Assessment to uncover your top passions — and how to apply them for clarity, fulfillment, and momentum. Take it here.
It’s time to work in a way that lights you up. Not drains you.
About Phyllis Reagin I’m Phyllis Reagin, a doctoral-trained behaviorist, Executive & Leadership Coach and leading expert in Imposter Syndrome. I have coached hundreds of leaders (from Netflix, Warner Bros., Amazon MGM Studios, ViacomCBS, CNN, and more) to lead with greater confidence, influence, and impact.
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