I had to sit with this one for a while (maybe too long) before I captured the extensive inner work that made it possible for me to restore my energy. Like so many others, I had been living the life: managing a demanding corporate career, raising my children, caring for my dad (and my mom until she passed), doing more work, sleeping, and then waking up to repeat the cycle again. Some might call it the hamster wheel or the daily grind. I call it less than what I expected. I was exhausted, to put it mildly, but even more so, I was depleted because there was no room on the calendar for the activities that really filled my heart, fueled my soul, and renewed my energy. It felt like someone had stolen my joy. I kept thinking, maybe tomorrow I’ll have more quality time with my kids or time for that walk outside, but tomorrow never came.
Secretly, I had been contemplating my exit, planning an escape for many months. I wasn’t sure what the next move would be, but the vision was in my consciousness, and it was as if God was answering a silent prayer. I woke up that Monday morning in a very upbeat mood and reached for a professional blouse. Something stopped me…and I put it back. I don’t know why. Then I purposefully looked for the company-branded quarter-zip because it felt like the right thing to wear on that particular day. I joined the video call for my weekly one-on-one and then someone I had never met appeared on screen. Well, we all know how that ended. It was layoff season. People had been talking about it, but I did not think I was at risk. In the moment of realization, I was at absolute peace. I was calm, composed, and oddly relieved. It was a clear sign that I was not where I was meant to be. I knew it and God knew it. I just wasn’t the first one to make the move. And sometimes that can make things seem like they’re out of control or out of your control. But I believe none of us are fully in control of every outcome.
Although I had no idea where I was headed, there were a few things I was absolutely sure of.
These messages played on repeat in my mind:
God had a different plan for me.
My purpose was not defined by a title or a paycheck.
After three decades, it was time to turn the page on the corporate era.
I would not return to an environment that depleted me.
I wanted to do something more meaningful.
Out of habit, my first thought was to seek out the next right move. That’s what people do: update the resume, start networking, apply for positions, submit resumes, and land interviews. Most people keep cycling back into the system, but my deeper, more intentional instinct guided me to resist this route. I kept thinking, if it happened this time, what would prevent it from happening again? Nothing. The job-search process is a roller coaster and can chip away at our sense of self.
In these moments of doubt and uncertainty, I started to lose belief in the value I deliver, despite a history of high performance, trusted relationships, and professional recognition. How does this even happen? Why did I let it? In my situation, I believe it had to do with my sense of pride. A new title or the comfort of a paycheck was not going to restore my dignity, make my light shine brighter, or give me meaning. That’s when a seed was planted in me to think differently about what my future could look like. My desire has always been to help others. That’s how I approached my past roles. That’s how I lived my life. But beyond that, I wanted to make a difference, a measurable individual impact in someone’s life. This was the tipping point.
Within about a week, I connected with someone about a business opportunity. I did my due diligence, and on paper, it checked out. I began working toward this goal, but something was holding me back. I couldn’t describe it, but it was a strong feeling I had in my gut. Something didn’t seem quite right. And in the end, it turned out to be all wrong.
This gave me room to pause. It was another reminder that it’s alright not to have everything figured out. In fact, not knowing is sometimes better. It pushed me beyond my comfort zone to explore the unconventional, stretch the limits, and dream bigger dreams. It enabled me to look into other opportunities that deviated from the corporate path. I explored a number of franchises and seriously considered a few. I tapped into my creativity and love for interior design by exploring a move in that direction as well. But ultimately, I kept returning to an industry that had been pulling at my heartstrings and kept calling on me from a young age. The industry was health and wellness.
I felt deeply connected to this industry for a multitude of reasons, one of which was my interest in dietetics during my teens. My mother was a registered nurse, and her mother, also a nurse, was the administrator in their local hospital. I lost both my sister and paternal grandmother to breast cancer at young ages. During the pandemic, my mom suffered a life-altering stroke that left her unable to verbally communicate. And my dad is currently losing his vision, which presents ever-evolving needs. Through all of this, I have been down every rabbit hole seeking answers to these and other health topics, not only for my loved ones who have experienced the challenges, but also for myself and my family.
What I learned in the moments of silence, when most of my answers emerged, was not at all what I was expecting.
Included with this paid post is the Made of Meaning™ Energy Restoration Workbook, a guided seven-day workbook to help you identify what is depleting your energy and begin restoring it.