Keeping My Sanity: Finding Purpose in Quiet Times

What happens when the fast-paced world of work slows down? This personal reflection explores how to stay grounded, find purpose, and navigate periods of quiet in your career.

When Work is Life For years, I’ve thrived on solving problems. It’s what gets me up in the morning—working with companies, clients, and teams to turn challenges into opportunities. Thinking and talking about ideas charges me up. The smallest spark of an idea can keep me going for days. Ambiguity and uncertainty have always attracted me, and though they come with their share of fear, I’ve learned to make the unknown my home. In many ways, my work has been my life.

So when I took a break—a much-needed one—I expected to feel rested. Instead, after a few weeks of doing nothing, a different feeling crept in: emptiness. For the first time, there was nothing to solve, no discussions to have, and no ideas to explore. The fuel that had kept me moving for so long had suddenly vanished, and I found myself wondering, "What now?"

Seeking Connection, Not Just Problems In an effort to shake off the emptiness, I began reaching out to people. I was looking for conversations—ones that made me think, that reignited the fire of curiosity and problem-solving. But instead of engaging in deep conversations or discussing interesting ideas, many of the responses I got were transactional: "How about you find us clients or leads?" or "What can I do for you?" and I fumbled.

That wasn’t what I was seeking. I realized that what I truly needed wasn’t just a new problem to solve—it was connection. I wanted to dive into discussions, to share ideas that went beyond the surface level, and to find something meaningful to contribute to.

The Challenge of Activation This brought me to a difficult realization:I’ve never been the kind of person who actively goes out looking for problems, but when challenges come my way, I don’t shy away from them. Even if the challenge is something I’ve never faced before, I accept it without hesitation. This has led me into situations where I’ve had to learn quickly, adapt on the fly, and make the unknown my new normal. While actively seeking problems might not be my instinct, embracing those that land in my lap has always brought me growth. The transition from accepting challenges, to actively pursuing them, is harder than I thought.

But I know that if I want to maintain my energy, my sanity, I need to push myself. Becoming more proactive—while not my instinctive nature—is something I am learning to embrace, slowly but surely. It’s a work in progress, and I’m okay with that.

A Reflection on Purpose This period of quiet has taught me something profound: purpose isn’t always something that comes naturally—it’s something you have to create. When the familiar challenges disappear, it’s easy to lose direction. But "looking ahead" isn’t just about waiting for the next big thing to come your way. It’s about finding ways to stay engaged and motivated, even when external demands quiet down.

For me, that means learning to seek out new opportunities for connection, conversation, and growth. It means pushing myself out of my comfort zone, even if that doesn’t come naturally. And it means remembering that purpose doesn’t have to come from solving the biggest problems—it can come from the smallest ideas, the quietest moments, and the simplest conversations.

Moving Forward I’m still figuring it out, but I’m starting to see that periods of quiet aren’t empty at all—they’re just invitations to find new fuel. The more I learn to "look ahead" and create opportunities for myself, the more I realize that purpose can be found in the search as much as in the solution.

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