There often comes a point in almost every career or role where your spark fades a little. Nothing is dramatically wrong, but sit also doesn't feel right any more. You still show up, still deliver, still care but inside there’s a quiet sense of coasting, boredom, or a kind of frustration that’s hard to put into words.

If you’ve felt like this, you’re not alone. I’ve been through these cycles myself throughout my career, and so have so many of the people I coach. The first thing I want you to know is that losing your spark isn’t a sign of failure. More often than not, it’s a sign of growth - the person you’ve become no longer fits the version of your career you created years ago.

Why your spark fades (and why it’s completely normal)

Motivation rarely disappears overnight. It fades over time, almost unnoticed at first. And this may be to a variety of factors, you get good at what you do, you master the routines, you stop needing to think as hard. And without meaning to, you drift into autopilot.

Then one day, you realise the excitement has gone and wonder what's missing. 

There are many reasons why motivation may wane, and I wanted to pick out the three I see the most:

• Your values and your work no longer align.
  
• Your direction is unclear, so you’re not working towards anything that feels meaningful.
  
• You’ve stopped dreaming, and without dreams, it’s very hard to feel energised.
  
  

Dreaming is something we do naturally as children, but slowly start to dampen as adults. Life becomes about responsibility, practicality, and getting through the week. Until one day, you look up and think, “Is this really it?”

This is a the perfecct moment to start thinking differently, and get excited agaon. It is very personal, so whilst I talk about dreaming and visualising your best future, you can keep it between you and your notebook. 

What losing motivation has looked like for me

Whenever I’ve hit these phases, I notice one common feeling that doesn't pop up often... frustration. What feelign do you notice within yourself?

I am energised by growth, challenge, and impact. So even within the same role, I look for ways to expand my world - hosting leadership events, running my monthly confident communication masterclasses, finding new ways to contribute or learn. To reignight my spark I try something new - sometimes it’s a tiny shift, sometimes a bigger reinvention, but it always brings fresh energy.

And outside of work, I reconnect with my spark through dreaming. Last week I shared by biggest secret to career success... thinking about building my best life rather than just a career. When I think about what this actually means - where I want to travel, the book I want to write, the waves I want to surf, the mother, daughter and partner I want to be - it gives me energy. I love my life today, but that has taken years of change: divorce, multiple house moves, a career transition, and more hard chapters than I probably give myself credit for. My spark always returns when I reconnect with what I actually want next.

That’s the part most people skip - we stop asking ourselves what we want.

Motivation doesn’t come first - clarity does.

This is the part people find surprising:
You don’t get motivation and then take action.
You take action after you get clarity.

Clarity is the spark. Motivation is the fuel that comes afterwards.

When you know what you’re working towards, your energy rises. When you feel directionless, even the smallest tasks feel heavy. Sure, you may decide you have to try out 50 things to find something that lights you up, and that is great! For now, that is your clarity, you have focus (to try 50 things) now use it to motivate you. 

Five mindset shifts to help you reignite your spark

Here are some shifts that help you reconnect with energy, possibility, and purpose.

1. Shift from autopilot to awareness

You can’t change what you haven’t noticed. Pay attention to when your energy drops and what feels draining. Equally important - notice what gives you a small pull of excitement, even if it’s not logical yet. Awareness creates movement.

2. Shift from routine to novelty

Your brain loves challenge, variety, and creativity. When every day feels the same, your spark naturally dims. Bring something new into your world: a different type of project, a new responsibility, learning a skill, or speaking to someone who thinks differently. Novelty creates momentum.

3. Shift from obligation to intention

“Should” is one of the quickest ways to shut down your spark - I should stay, I should be grateful, I should want the next step on the ladder. Instead, ask what success looks like for you now, not five years ago or according to someone else’s expectations. When your goals evolve with who you are, your energy comes back.

4. Shift from safety to stretch

It’s easy to stay in the comfortable middle ground, especially if you’re capable and competent. But confidence grows at the edge of discomfort. Do something that scares you just slightly - not a leap, but a stretch. Say yes to something new, initiate a conversation you’ve been avoiding, or put yourself forward in a small way. Stretching reactivates your spark.

5. Shift from stagnation to dreaming

If you feel disconnected from the future, it becomes very hard to feel motivated today. Set aside practical constraints for a moment and let yourself imagine again. What do you want your life to look like in three, five, or ten years? Not the version you think you should want - the version you secretly do - that’s often where the spark is hiding, along with a bunch of motivation.

A spark problem or an alignment problem?

Sometimes a motivation dip is a sign you’re in the wrong place - that’s alignment.
Other times, it’s simply a sign you’ve stopped doing the things that bring you alive - that’s energy.

Perhaps you are one of the many people that assume it’s your job. Often, it’s your lack of spark.

Learn to recognise the difference.

Your spark isn’t lost - it’s buried, waiting

It sits under routine, responsibility, and doing what you’ve always done. But it’s still there, ready to be uncovered when you reconnect with what energises you and take even one small step towards something that excites you again.

If you’d like help finding that clarity, drop me an message at [email protected] to discover how we can work together. 

Always with love,
Elsa x