A Simple Energy-Based Technique for Better Career Decisions
I’d like to share with you a decision-making technique. In this context, I’m focusing on careers and how to find more fulfilling work or align with your purpose. But this method can be used for many areas of life.
If your career feels off or you’re feeling restless, this technique can be surprisingly powerful in helping you find clarity.
It’s simple: ask yourself, where’s my energy at?
Listening to Your Energy
If you’re like me, you often look for logical, analytical solutions to problems. This might sound a little abstract, but it’s not.
Your whole body — your mind, heart, and gut — is a decision-making system. When you pay attention to your personal energy, you’re really listening to how your nervous system reacts to your environment.
What’s interesting is that your body often senses things before your conscious mind does. Psychology and neuroscience both support this idea — your body can pick up on cues long before your brain processes them.
How to Use This Technique
Asking “Where’s my energy at?” can help you make refinements to your current career, or signal that it’s time for a more significant change.
Some people track this deeply — noting posture, energy, breathing, and mood throughout the day. But there’s a simple version that takes just a few minutes each day for one or two weeks.
At the end of each day, take a few quiet minutes to reflect and ask yourself:
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What gave me the most energy or excitement today?
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What drained me or brought my energy down today?
Track this daily for a week or two. You’ll start to see patterns. These patterns will point to what energizes you and what depletes you.
Ask yourself:
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When is my energy highest?
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When am I thriving?
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When do I feel drained or off balance?
Recognizing the Signals
These insights might lead to small adjustments — like asking your team or manager about delegating certain tasks.
Or they might point toward something bigger, like a career pivot.
When reviewing your notes, reflect on:
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Which skills are you using when your energy is high?
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Are there specific people or situations that lift you up or drain you?
Sometimes it’s not your entire career that’s misaligned — it might just be a particular role, dynamic, or environment.
Finding Alignment
For me, and for most people, energy increases when I move into alignment.
Personally, I feel most energized by creativity, expression, and autonomy. For you, it might be something entirely different.
This exercise may sound simple, but until you actually do it, you won’t truly see where your energy is.
Energy drains usually come from the opposite — times when you’re not in alignment, or not in your sweet spot.
Not every part of a role will be energizing, but the goal is to move toward what gives you energy.
You’re not eliminating all negatives; you’re simply refining your focus to strengthen what works.
Trust Your Gut
When reflecting on your patterns, try not to overthink.
Your conscious mind will raise fears — about stability, finances, or what others might think. Instead, trust your body. Trust your gut. Trust your energy.
Ultimately, you’re looking for that “hell yeah” moment — when you feel completely aligned and energized.
That’s your signal. That’s where you need to head.
Everyone deserves to do work that energizes them. This simple check-in helps you find the direction that feels right — one that aligns your energy, purpose, and career.
If you want to go deeper, you may check out the Alignment Scorecard and see where your energy is guiding you.