7 Thought-Shifting Prompts to Help You Discover the Work You’re Meant For

You know that quiet ache that shows up on Sunday nights?

The way your stomach tightens when you think about Monday morning… again?

You’ve done everything right in your career.
Checked all the boxes.
Earned the title. Got the degree. Landed the job.

But somewhere along the way, you started asking yourself a hard question, silently at first:

“Is this it?”

If you’re nodding your head, this isn’t just burnout.
It’s misalignment.
And deep down, you know it.

The good news? There’s a path forward.
But it starts with more than just a resume update.
It starts with a mindset shift…and a willingness to ask yourself better questions.

These 7 prompts will help you rediscover what career you actually want. So you can stop guessing, and start designing a career (and life) that finally fits.

---

1. Start With What You Don’t Want

Sometimes clarity comes in the form of frustration.

Start there.
What parts of your current work drain you?

The long commute? The meaningless meetings? The feeling of being replaceable?

Write them down.
Then ask: What’s the opposite of this?

• Hate commuting? You may crave flexibility or local impact in your career.
  
• Dread office politics? A solo venture or remote setup might serve you better.
  
• Tired of the performative culture? Maybe it’s time to create your own rules.
  

When you know what you don’t want, it gets easier to name what you do.

---

2. Question the “Shoulds” That Shaped You

Let’s get real:

How much of your career was built on survival…or someone else’s expectations?

“I should have a six-figure salary by now.”
“I should stay at this job for stability.”
“I should make this look good on LinkedIn.”

But should will keep you stuck in your career.

Ask yourself:

• Where did this belief come from?
  
• Who benefits when I stay small?
  
• What would I choose if I didn’t owe anyone an explanation?
  

You don’t need permission to want something more aligned.
You just need to stop making decisions from fear.

---

3. Dream Without Limits (Even If It Feels Silly)

This might sound cliché, but it matters:

If nothing was in your way, not money, not age, not fear, what would your days look like?

Would you write a book?
Run your own studio?
Travel, teach, build something with your hands?

Don’t just name the job title. Picture:

• How you’d feel waking up each morning
  
• The kind of people you’d work with
  
• The rhythm of your day
  

Most people don’t allow themselves to dream because it feels too far away.
But clarity starts in imagination.

---

4. Revisit the Roads Not Taken

Remember that offer you declined years ago?
The side hustle you loved but didn’t pursue?
The version of yourself you buried to “be practical”?

She’s still there, asking for your attention.

Play it out:

• What would life look like if you had followed that thread?
  
• What part of that old dream still excites you?
  
• What values were you honoring then… that you’ve since abandoned?
  

This isn’t about regret.
It’s about reconnecting to pieces of your purpose.

---

5. Redefine Success. On Your Own Terms

What if success wasn’t loud?

What if it wasn’t about titles, numbers, or external validation. But about alignment, energy, and peace?

Would you still chase the same goals?

Maybe your dream life looks like:

• Quiet mornings with your kids before work
  
• Designing custom furniture in your garage
  
• Running wellness retreats for women over 40
  
• Growing food and selling it in your community
  

Success doesn’t have to be impressive.
It just has to be yours.

---

6. Visualize the Version of You Who’s Thriving

Close your eyes for 30 seconds.

See your future self, the one who figured it out.

Where are you?
What are you doing?
How do you spend your time?
Who’s around you?
What’s different about your energy?

Let that vision guide your decisions today.
It’s not fantasy, it’s data.
Your brain just gave you a blueprint.

---

7. Take One Step. Then Another.

Clarity isn’t a lightning bolt.

It’s a series of small choices that compound over time.

Start here:

• Google one job you’re curious about
  
• DM someone who’s doing what you want
  
• Take a weekend workshop
  
• Volunteer for a passion project
  

Every small action is a vote for your future.
Even if you’re still unclear, motion leads to momentum.

---

🔥 Final Word: Your Life Is Calling. Will You Answer?

You weren’t meant to survive your career.
You were meant to build something…honest, aligned, and sustainable.

No, you don’t have to quit tomorrow.
But you do have to listen to that inner whisper that says:

“This isn’t it… but something better is possible.”

And it is.

Clarity isn’t a gift. It’s a process.
And it starts when you give yourself permission to want more.

You’ve done what’s expected.
Now it’s time to do what’s aligned.

Your next chapter is waiting.

---

📥 Want Help Figuring Out What’s Next?Download the free workbook → Find Your Fit: 7 Prompts to Discover the Job You Actually Want
It’s packed with reflection questions and exercises to help you go from confusion to clarity, in under 30 minutes.

Because the answers?
They’re already inside you.
You just need the right questions.

I’m a certified executive coach and an ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC) for Twanna Carter Professional & Personal Coaching, LLC. I flubbed my first career transition from the military so badly, it took me the next 10+ years to build my confidence and  recover. I know what it feels like to struggle with imposter syndrome and uncertainty about my leadership skills in the workplace. It’s why I am dedicated to empowering Black women. Helping them navigate career challenges and uncertainty by providing them with the tools and strategies they need to be successful. Schedule a V.I.P. Roadmap session today.

If you enjoyed this blog, please share it. If you’re also feeling generous, consider Buying Me a Coffee.☕️

Read my latest blogs…

• 
  What If Your Career Wasn’t Meant to Be This Hard?
  7 Thought-Shifting Prompts to Help You Discover the Work You’re Meant For You know that quiet ache that shows up on Sunday… Read more: What If Your Career Wasn’t Meant to Be This Hard?
• 
  Why Boundaries Are the Richest Thing You Can Build This Year
  Wealth Isn’t Just About Your Bank Account When you hear the word “rich,” what pops into your mind? Diamond necklaces? Stock portfolios?… Read more: Why Boundaries Are the Richest Thing You Can Build This Year
• 
  Are You Really Being Too Much, Or Just Being Seen?
  Have you ever felt the need to shrink yourself at work or in social spaces, just to avoid being labeled as “being… Read more: Are You Really Being Too Much, Or Just Being Seen?
• 
  Career Shift? These 9 Transferable Skills Resources Are Game-Changers
  As an executive-level professional aiming for a strategic career pivot, knowing your transferable skills isn’t just beneficial, it’s essential. Transferable skills are… Read more: Career Shift? These 9 Transferable Skills Resources Are Game-Changers
• 
  You Need a Hustle Detox. Not Another Planner.
  Are you tired of buying yet another planner, hoping THIS one will finally fix your chaos? You know the drill: glossy cover,… Read more: You Need a Hustle Detox. Not Another Planner.
• 
  The 5 Core Values Every Black Woman Executive Should Define Before Her Next Career Move
  Have you ever felt overwhelmed by opportunities, yet unsure which path truly fits your ambitions, identity, and well-being? If you’re a Black… Read more: The 5 Core Values Every Black Woman Executive Should Define Before Her Next Career Move
• 
  How to Protect Yourself from Being Managed Out – The Ultimate Survival Playbook for Black Women Executives
    You walk into the Monday morning meeting, coffee in hand, feeling ready to tackle the week. But something’s off. The room… Read more: How to Protect Yourself from Being Managed Out – The Ultimate Survival Playbook for Black Women Executives
• 
  What Your Inner Critic Is Really Costing You. And How to Take Back Control
  Have you ever replayed a single mistake in your mind for days, doubted your abilities before a big meeting, or hesitated to… Read more: What Your Inner Critic Is Really Costing You. And How to Take Back Control