Careers do not only change on the outside — they change on the inside too

What people seek in work often shifts over time.

At the beginning of a career, the focus is usually on growth, ambition, and achievement. Later, other needs tend to emerge: peace of mind, autonomy, balance, and meaning.

Success alone no longer feels sufficient.

Mark spent years working as a consultant and advanced quickly in his career. Strong assignments, recognition, professional growth — everything seemed to fall into place. Yet over time, he noticed that his work brought him less and less fulfillment. He felt increasingly empty and found himself asking more often: what am I actually doing this for?

Jeroen recognizes a different side of the same issue. He genuinely enjoys his work and feels a strong sense of responsibility. But precisely because of that, work never truly stops. In the evenings, he still wants to “finish one more thing.” Mentally, he remains at work even when he is physically at home. Gradually, he notices himself becoming less present for his family and for the parts of life outside work that matter deeply to him.

Different stories — but they touch the same core question:
the need for work that feels not only successful, but also meaningful and sustainable.

Because balance is not simply about working less.
It is also about mental space. About being able to recover. About having genuine attention for what matters outside work — without constantly being somewhere else in your mind.

When work aligns with personal values, it creates energy, engagement, and direction. When that alignment is missing, restlessness, emptiness, or mental fatigue often follow — even when everything appears successful on the surface.

Ultimately, career development is not about climbing higher.
It is about staying closer to yourself.

One question that may help:

What truly gives you energy — and how much space does work continue to occupy outside working hours?

Just as a compass does not determine the route, but helps you stay on course when the landscape changes.

In Doing What Matters – Resilient Working with ACT, I share insights and practical tools for working with greater meaning, calm, and resilience — especially during challenging periods in life or work.

Order the book via Brave New Books or access the e-learning through the webshop.

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