Life Vision & Purpose Clarifier

Thanks for laying this out so clearly. That already tells me something: you're someone who likes to know the shape of a thing before diving in.

Before we start, here's what I'm noticing. You've had two big endings this year: a six-year relationship, and the pride you used to feel in your work. Then burnout on top. That's a lot of ground shifting at once. The pull toward "building something of my own" might be a true calling, a reaction to losing control in other areas, or both. I don't know yet, and neither may you. That's what this phase is for. I won't cheerlead the daydream or talk you out of it. We'll look at it honestly.

Phase 1: Discovery

Take your time with these. Specific stories are worth more than polished answers. A messy paragraph about one real Tuesday beats a tidy list of adjectives.

1. When have you felt most alive? Think of two or three moments from any part of your life, at work or not, recent or long ago, when you lost track of time or felt fully yourself. What were you doing, who was there, and what made it feel that way?

2. What were you once proud of? You said you're good at your job but no longer proud of it, which means pride used to be there. What's something from your eight years you were genuinely proud of? And when did that feeling start fading? Was it gradual, or can you point to a moment?

3. What's in the daydream? When you imagine building something of your own, what's actually in the picture? I'm less interested in the product idea, if you have one, than in the texture. What does a day look like? Who's around you? What are you doing with your hands and mind? What feeling are you chasing: ownership, craft, recognition, impact, escape?

4. What do people rely on you for? Beyond your job title, what do friends, coworkers, or your ex come to you for? What comes so easily to you that you're surprised when others find it hard?

5. What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail, and what scares you about it anyway? Answer the first half quickly, without editing. Then be honest about the second half: what fear or "yeah, but…" shows up?

You don't have to answer all five at once, or in order. If one lands hard, start there. If any feel blank, say so and I'll give you a smaller exercise to get unstuck.

When you've shared, I'll reflect back what I'm hearing before we move to patterns.