In a world where we’re often pressured to choose the “right” career path or hustle for the next promotion, it can be easy to lose sight of what truly matters to us. Instead of simply chasing titles, paychecks, or societal approval, imagine building a career that’s aligned with your deepest values, unique gifts, and sense of purpose. Sounds like a dream, right? But it’s entirely possible—and the journey starts with a bit of self-discovery.
In this blog, we’ll dive into the process of uncovering your core values, recognizing your gifts, and aligning them with your sense of purpose to create a fulfilling career. Let’s get started on this transformative journey!
Why Values, Gifts, and Purpose Matter in Career Focus
At its core, career satisfaction isn’t about finding the highest-paying job or climbing the corporate ladder the fastest; it’s about feeling fulfilled and being excited to show up every day. When your work aligns with your values, utilizes your natural gifts, and serves your purpose, it fuels motivation, resilience, and long-term happiness. But how do you discover what those things are?
The first step is getting clear on what truly drives you. Here’s how to uncover these three essential pillars:
Step 1: Eliciting Your Core Values
Your values are the guiding principles that shape your decisions and behavior. They’re like the compass that keeps you on course, especially when life throws curveballs. Identifying your values can help you choose career paths that are more meaningful to you.
How to Uncover Your Values:
- Reflect on peak experiences: Think about times when you felt deeply satisfied and fulfilled, whether at work, in personal projects, or in relationships. What were you doing? What made it meaningful? What values were present in that experience—creativity, freedom, service, authenticity, connection?
- Identify your frustrations: Sometimes, understanding what bothers you the most reveals your values. For instance, if you’re often frustrated by dishonesty or a lack of transparency, it’s likely that integrity is one of your core values.
- Create a list and prioritize: Write down all the values you identify, then narrow them down to your top 5-7. These are the non-negotiables that should guide your career choices.
Examples of Core Values:
- Growth
- Independence
- Compassion
- Innovation
- Stability
- Connection
Pro Tip: Once you’ve identified your values, revisit them periodically. As you grow and evolve, your values might shift.
Step 2: Recognizing Your Unique Gifts
Everyone has unique strengths and talents, but we’re often so focused on our weaknesses that we forget to nurture our gifts. Understanding what comes naturally to you can help you find a career where you thrive.
How to Recognize Your Gifts:
- Ask trusted people: Sometimes, our strengths are so second-nature that we don’t even recognize them. Ask friends, family, or colleagues what they think your strengths are. Often, their perspective will reveal gifts you take for granted.
- Reflect on moments of flow: Think of activities where you lose track of time, where effort feels almost effortless, and where you feel truly alive. This is often where your gifts lie. Maybe it’s solving complex problems, communicating ideas, or helping others.
- Leverage your struggles: Surprisingly, the challenges you’ve overcome can reveal hidden gifts. For example, if you’ve struggled with anxiety and learned coping strategies, you might have a gift for empathy, patience, or helping others find calm.
Examples of Gifts:
- Intuition
- Problem-solving
- Creativity
- Empathy
- Strategic thinking
Pro Tip: Your gifts aren’t just skills you’ve learned—they’re the abilities that light you up. Pay attention to where your energy and joy flow naturally.
Step 3: Discovering Your Purpose
Purpose is your “why”—the reason you get out of bed in the morning. It’s often less about the specific work you do and more about the impact you want to make. While values and gifts guide what you do, purpose is about why you do it.
How to Discover Your Purpose:
- Reflect on meaningful moments: Think back on moments when you felt most alive, fulfilled, or connected. What were you doing, and who were you helping? This can give clues to your purpose.
- Consider your “superpower” impact: Imagine you have a superpower that you could use to change the world. What would that superpower be? And how would you use it? Sometimes, our purpose is tied to the unique way we want to make a difference.
- Ask the 5 Whys: Start with a question like, “Why do I want this career?” Then keep asking “Why?” to your answer five times. This technique can help drill down to the deeper, more meaningful reasons behind your career goals.
Examples of Purpose Statements:
- “To inspire others to believe in their potential.”
- “To bring more joy and creativity into the world.”
- “To help people heal and find peace.”
- “To solve complex problems that create a better future.”
Pro Tip: Your purpose is like a North Star—it guides you, but it doesn’t necessarily dictate one specific job or role. Focus on how you want to feel and the impact you want to have.
Bringing It All Together: Crafting Your Career Focus
Once you’ve identified your values, gifts, and purpose, it’s time to align them with your career. Here’s how:
- Create a vision statement: Write a short statement that encapsulates your values, gifts, and purpose. For example:
- “I value growth and connection, and my gift is helping others see new perspectives. My purpose is to inspire people to live authentically.”
- Evaluate your current job: How well does it align with your vision statement? Are there adjustments you can make, or do you need a bigger change?
- Seek alignment in future roles: When considering new opportunities, ask yourself:
- Does this role align with my core values?
- Will it allow me to use my gifts?
- Does it contribute to my sense of purpose?
Pro Tip: This process isn’t about finding a perfect job—it’s about continuous alignment. Your career will evolve, and so will you. Keep checking in with yourself to ensure you’re on the right path.
Final Thoughts: Embrace the Journey of Self-Discovery
The process of uncovering your values, gifts, and purpose is like peeling back the layers of an onion. It’s not a one-time exercise but an ongoing journey of self-discovery. Don’t rush it—give yourself time to explore, reflect, and refine.
Remember, your career is more than a paycheck; it’s an expression of who you are and what you stand for. When you align your career with your core values, leverage your natural gifts, and connect it with a deeper purpose, you won’t just find a job—you’ll create a life that’s meaningful, fulfilling, and uniquely yours.
So, are you ready to embark on this journey of self-discovery and design a career that’s aligned with who you truly are?
Let’s Connect!
Need support on this journey? As an Integrative Wellness Coach, I’m here to guide you in uncovering your values, gifts, and purpose so you can create a fulfilling career and life. Let’s take that next step together! START HERE!
Hummingbird Soul 
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