I Had It All—So Why Was I So Miserable at Work?

Another Monday morning. My alarm blared, and my chest tightened.

I stared at the ceiling, dreading another day full of meetings, emails while I tried to ignore the giant pit in my stomach.

Was this really what I worked so hard for?

Other days I would wake up in a hotel room by myself in yet another city. It honestly didn’t matter which city, I’d only see the view from my window and a quick blur of buildings on the ride to the airport.

On paper, my life looked ideal—a high-paying job, lots of travel and perks, and a fancy title. I should have been happy.

But inside, I felt empty.

I was exhausted, disconnected, and wondering: Is this really it? Is this what I worked so hard for?

I tried everything—productivity hacks, meditation, time management tricks, even an executive coach. But no amount of self-improvement could fix the fact that I was living a life that wasn’t aligned with my soul.

And deep down, I knew it.

The Wake-Up Call I Couldn’t Ignore

Then, one day, I looked around at my colleagues—the ones who were 10 or 20 years ahead of me.

Same exhausted eyes. Same rushed conversations. Same sinking feeling when a late-night email came in.

Some numbed the stress with wine. Others buried themselves in work, never taking vacations. Their marriages were strained. Their health was suffering.

Was this my future?

I’ll never forget something my friend Suzanne said:

“The trouble is, even if you win the rat race, you’re still a rat.” ~Lily Tomlin

It got me thinking about the type of person I wanted to be and the kind of life I wanted to live. I didn’t want to be just another rat in an endless rat race.

I knew there must be a better way and I was determined to find it.

The Hardest Decision I’ve Ever Made

I started talking to others who had left the corporate world. Some were struggling, but others were thriving—earning a good income while doing work they truly loved.

Regardless of their financial situation, every single one told me the same thing: They didn’t regret leaving.

I wrestled with the decision for months. My heart whispered, Go. But my logical brain screamed, Are you crazy?

Late-night conversations with my husband. Endless pro/con lists. Sleepless nights.

It all led to one unavoidable truth: I couldn’t stay.

But walking away wasn’t easy.

I had no roadmap. No next job lined up. No guarantees. Just a deep knowing that there had to be another way—one that didn’t require sacrificing my health, happiness, and soul.

So we made a plan. I worked with a coach and joined a mastermind group for support. And then—I did it. I walked away.

The Messy Middle (And Why It’s Worth It)

I wish I could say everything fell into place overnight, but that’s not how transformation works.

Some days, I felt ecstatic and free. Other days, I woke up in an almost debilitating panic, wondering, What have I done? What if I fail?

We had to cut expenses—really cut expenses. I had to sit with the discomfort of not knowing what was next. And I had to learn how to trust myself again.

So I gave myself time.

I prioritized self-care—something I had neglected for years. I went back to the gym. I wrote, journaled, reflected. I reconnected with my intuition, one small step at a time.

And slowly, clarity emerged.

Finding My True Calling

One day, I looked at the whiteboard in my office—the one where I had written my personal why years before after taking a course from Simon Sinek:

"To help and inspire others so we may change the world."

That was it. That was always it.

And today, that’s exactly what I do. I help soulful, sensitive women like you step out of careers that drain them and into work that nourishes them—work that aligns with their purpose, values, and joy.

The best part? Watching my clients come alive again. Seeing them wake up excited for the day ahead. Watching them light up as they realize they are finally doing what they’re meant to do.

What About You?

If you wake up dreading your work, know this:

• You are not stuck.

• You have options. Even if you can’t see them yet, they are there.

I wholeheartedly believe we are not meant to live in exhaustion and dread.

One of my favorite quotes and things I try to remember is from Seth Godin,

“Instead of wondering when your next vacation is, maybe you should set up a life you don’t need to escape from.” ~Seth Godin

So, let me ask you…

• What if your work felt joyful instead of draining?

• What if you woke up excited instead of exhausted?

If you’re feeling the nudge that something needs to change, trust it. Because life is too short to spend it feeling disconnected from your soul.

Curious about your next step? Let’s explore it together.

Photo by Bruno van der Kraan on Unsplash