The Brain-Based Fix for Feeling Disconnected
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Let’s talk about your brain for a second.
When you feel lit up at work — when your ideas flow, your confidence soars, and the hours fly by — it’s not just because you’re “in the zone.” It’s because your brain is rewarding you.
That rush of motivation and energy? That’s dopamine. It gets released when your brain senses you’re doing something meaningful, exciting, or purpose-driven.
But when you spend your days disconnected from your core passions — just ticking boxes, doing “what needs to be done,” and ignoring that inner tug that something’s off — your brain does the opposite. It pulls back your energy. Dopamine drops. You start to feel foggy, distracted, flat.
That’s exactly what James was feeling. As the Director of Brand Engagement for a small media startup, he used to thrive on creative energy, community building, and the thrill of telling stories that moved people. But lately? The spark was gone.
The company had shifted priorities. Budgets got tighter. His role started to revolve more around reporting, approval processes, and endless internal comms. He was still performing — but it felt like he was moving through molasses.
In coaching, we uncovered the source: James had stopped working from his passions. He hadn’t lost his fire — he just wasn’t feeding it.
Here’s how we got him back into his creative groove — and how you can, too.
1. Recognize the Signals from Your Brain
James’s Challenge:
James kept blaming himself for feeling uninspired. He thought maybe he was burning out, or that something was wrong with his motivation. But his brain was simply doing its job — trying to conserve energy for work that matters to him.
Why This Strategy Works:
Your brain is always scanning for meaning. When work doesn’t feel connected to your passions, your brain turns down the volume. Understanding this is the first step to reclaiming your spark.
How You Can Apply It:
✓ Notice your energy. Where in your day do you feel alive? Where do you feel drained or distracted?
✓ Pay attention to your focus and mood. Are you energized or dragging? Curious or checked out? These are cues.
✓ Start reframing moments of disengagement not as “weakness,” but as signals. Your brain is asking: Can we do more of what lights us up?
Example:
James realized his low energy always kicked in during internal messaging reviews — but soared when he brainstormed new campaign angles or led brand strategy sessions. This awareness alone helped him start making subtle but powerful shifts.
2. Reintroduce What You Love into the Work You Already Have
James’s Challenge:
He assumed the only way to get his energy back was to change jobs. But a full pivot wasn’t realistic — or necessary. What he actually needed was reconnection.
Why This Strategy Works:
You don’t need to overhaul your career to reignite your passion. Your brain doesn’t need perfect conditions — just meaningful engagement. Small changes can spark big results.
How You Can Apply It:
✓ Identify what activities energize you (e.g., storytelling, creative strategy, mentoring, designing, connecting).
✓ Choose one of those and intentionally weave it into your week — even for 30 minutes.
✓ Look at your existing tasks: How can you do them in a way that feels more aligned with your passions?
Example:
James brought back a piece of his old role that he loved — hosting a monthly “brand story jam session” with the creative team. It wasn’t official. No one asked him to do it. But it reconnected him to what he loved: curiosity, collaboration, voice. His energy — and leadership presence — came roaring back.
3. Let Passion Guide Future Decisions
James’s Challenge:
He was making career decisions based on what was strategic and expected — not what was meaningful. Over time, this left him disconnected from himself.
Why This Strategy Works:
When your core passions guide your decisions — not just logic or optics — you make choices that fuel you instead of draining you. And your brain, in turn, supports those choices with motivation, clarity, and energy.
How You Can Apply It:
✓ Before saying yes to a new opportunity, ask: Does this align with what lights me up?
✓ Reevaluate your long-term goals through the lens of passion — not just performance.
✓ Use your passions as a filter: What do I want more of? What do I want to leave behind?
Example:
James was invited to lead a cross-functional business operations initiative. Two years ago, he would’ve jumped at it. But now, he paused and asked: Will this give me more of what energizes me? The answer was no. Instead, he pitched a different leadership role tied to creative campaign expansion — and got it.
Your Next Move: Light Your Brain Back Up
You don’t have to stay stuck in uninspired work.
You don’t have to accept “fine” when your career was meant to feel vital.
✓ Listen to your brain’s signals — dullness is a cue, not a flaw
✓ Bring what you love into what you already do
✓ Make passion your compass in how you lead and grow
James didn’t need to change everything. He just needed to reconnect.
And so do you.
Your energy, your creativity, your clarity — they’re waiting on the other side of realignment.
Take my FREE Fuel Finder Quiz here — find out whether you’re aligned — or running on autopilot.