Worried that Work Isn’t Working?
Take the quiz and find out!
It’s Time to Reimagine our Relationship with Our Purpose and Profession With Katie Keller Wood
Hello and Welcome!
I’m so glad you are here.
- Maybe you have this feeling that something isn’t quite right in your life?
- Or maybe you’re frustrated by trying to achieve the elusive work-life balance that everyone keeps talking about?
- Maybe you’re feeling pretty burned out and confused about how your meaningful work can leave you feeling so stressed, sad, and empty?
If we haven’t met before, I’m Katie Keller Wood
Keynote Speaker, Author, and Executive Director of CMStep:
Cincinnati Montessori Secondary Teacher Education Program
We’ve been looking at things all wrong.
In this quest for the elusive work-life balance, we’re just
burning ourselves out. Because work-life balance is a lie. We’re
weighing ourselves on an invisible scale and always coming up
short. It’s a game that we can never win, because we are
fragmenting our lives into pieces, instead of taking a holistic
perspective of ourselves and how we want to contribute to
the world. The pursuit of balance can lead us straight to
burnout. But, it doesn’t have to be like this.
We need a new way of thinking about our relationship with ourselves and our work -ALIGNMENT.
I’ve learned how to redefine my relationship with myself, my purpose, and my work
through the concept of alignment, and I’ve witnessed the potential it has to support others
in helping professions revolutionize their approach to their work.
But it all starts with figuring out where we are right now on our journey.
I’ve designed this short quiz to help you start to explore your relationship with work and
get curious about what’s going well and where there is room for improvement.
So, grab a mug of your favorite beverage and take a few minutes to explore the questions below.
As you answer the questions, it’s important to keep a holistic perspective. If your life is in a moment of flux, or you’re dealing with a big event, of course, this will influence your perspective of work. But, try to keep a “big-picture perspective” in mind as you’re answering these questions. You never know what you might discover!
Okay, enough chit-chat, let’s dive in!
Is Your Work Working?
How did you do?
Tally up your score and use the descriptions below to pinpoint where you are right now.
It’s important to realize that alignment is a continuum that ebbs and flows and evolves
throughout life. Who you are today is not the same as who you will be tomorrow. The same
goes for your alignment. But, by gaining clarity on where we are, we can start to explore
what is and isn’t working, recognize what we can celebrate, and honor the areas crying out
for our attention.
It’s brave and noble work that we are doing right here.
There’s a problem. Time to get really curious.
If your total is between 36 and 48, then your work and non-work are in major misalignment.
No job is 100% perfect, 100% of the time. But there are elements that are required to thrive.
Your emotional and physical safety are paramount. If these are not being met, it’s seriously
time to explore other options. You have the right to feel safe at work.
Wanting to live a life of alignment with your purpose and profession is a noble act. It’s okay that you don’t have things figured out right now. These things take time. So be kind to yourself as you embark on this journey. You only have to take the first step and things will unfold. You don’t have to blow up your life and quit your job today. Just by getting curious about what life could look like, you are bravely embarking on a journey of possibility.
Wanting to live a life of alignment with your purpose and profession is a noble act. It’s okay that you don’t have things figured out right now. These things take time. So be kind to yourself as you embark on this journey. You only have to take the first step and things will unfold. You don’t have to blow up your life and quit your job today. Just by getting curious about what life could look like, you are bravely embarking on a journey of possibility.
Next Steps:
Start to think about your non-negotiables. Begin to compile a list of the must-have
qualities that you are looking for in your next position. By giving this some thought, you
will start to gain clarity on the industry, work environment, and contributions you want to
make to the world.
Start to dream about what your life could look like if you were operating from a place
of alignment. Pay attention to the people who you feel envy or jealousy towards, as that’s
often an indicator of your desires. Get curious about how you want to contribute to the
world in a way that feels good and examine the intersection of your talents and the needs of your industry. It might be time to really look at making a career change, either within your industry or in an entirely new one.
Things could be better. There’s cause for concern.
If your total is between 24 and 36, then your work and non-work have elements of misalignment that need your attention.
This is actually pretty normal. Most people weren’t taught about how to create a life of
alignment, where they can show up with their full passion and purpose. I am so happy that
you are here and that I’ve connected with you because I have a lot to share about how we
can find our alignment and really create healthy, thriving lives that we are proud of.
Next Steps:
Try to avoid all-or-nothing thinking. At this stage of the game, spend some time getting
clear about what is working. Begin to recognize the things that are going well and how you
can bring more of that into your life.
Consider what you can let go of. What can you release? Maybe it’s some commitments or committees. Maybe you can outsource some aspects of life that don’t bring you joy. By
letting go of what isn’t working, you make space to add in more of what is working. Just by bringing your attention to these areas of your life, you can get things in motion and start to explore how you can show up with more alignment in every aspect of your life.
Things are mostly good. But there’s room for improvement.
If your total is between 12 and 24, then your work and non-work have elements of alignment.
Well done, friend! There are a lot of aspects of your purpose and profession that are working! You’ve got some of the bigger pieces figured out, but there’s still room to optimize and improve. For you, small adjustments can have a huge impact on your alignment. It’s so important to realize that alignment is an ever-evolving process and what works today might not work tomorrow, and that’s okay.
Next Steps:
Consider aspects of your work and life that are working. Ask yourself how you can amplify these contributions, feelings, and activities. When you know how you want to feel and where you want to go, you can make some small adjustments that have the power to change everything.
Play, experiment, and have some fun. Don’t be afraid to experiment by trying new things, taking risks, or stepping into the unknown. Pay attention to what you learn from
these new experiences. Keep what works and toss the rest. Don’t underestimate the impact of small adjustments!
Kudos. Your profession and purpose are in alignment.
If most of your answers are rarely / never then your work and non-work are mostly aligned.
It’s really important to note that alignment is a process, not a permanent destination. Change is inevitable in life: your work can change, your priorities can change, your family can change and who you are can change. Alignment is really about being able to build resiliency and make decisions that will support every aspect of who we are.
Next Steps:
As you enter new seasons of life, things will realign and need our attention. It’s
always good to learn the skills we need to be able to assess and readjust as things unfold.
This allows us to build self-trust and resiliency so that we can handle whatever life throws
our way.
Keep learning. Because you’ve got the big pieces of your life figured out, maybe it’s time
to explore some of the smaller aspects that need your attention? Is there a curiosity or
hobby or area of self-expression that is calling out to you? Is there something that you’ve always wanted to learn but haven’t had the chance? Maybe it’s time for a new goal or vision for your future? With most things in place, now you can start refining the smaller aspects of your life to really optimize your alignment and find even more joy, fulfillment, and
happiness.
I hope this quiz has sparked your interest and pointed you in the
direction of your aligned dreams.
Getting curious about your purpose and your profession can help you unlock a brighter future for yourself, your community, and the world.
I’ll be popping into your inbox over the next few weeks to share a bit more about the myth of balance and how alignment is a better goal.
I absolutely love sharing this work as a guest speaker, trainer, and author in my upcoming book.
Wherever you are on the alignment continuum, I’m here to support you.
Please let me know how the quiz went for you! I’d love to hear from you.
To your alignment,
Katie
Getting curious about your purpose and your profession can help you unlock a brighter future for yourself, your community, and the world.
I’ll be popping into your inbox over the next few weeks to share a bit more about the myth of balance and how alignment is a better goal.
I absolutely love sharing this work as a guest speaker, trainer, and author in my upcoming book.
Wherever you are on the alignment continuum, I’m here to support you.
Please let me know how the quiz went for you! I’d love to hear from you.
To your alignment,
Katie