Aligning Your Career with Your Core Values
What if your career felt less like a job, and more like a reflection of who you truly are?
There’s a moment I’ll never forget.
I was on my way to another shift, wearing my scrubs, stethoscope in hand, when a song came on the radio—one I hadn’t heard in years.
I don’t even remember the lyrics now.
What I do remember is the ache in my chest.
It was subtle, like the feeling you get when you pass by your childhood home or smell something that reminds you of someone you’ve lost. A quiet whisper:
“This isn’t quite it. This isn’t quite me.”
That moment stayed with me.
Because for the first time, I realized I wasn’t just tired—I was misaligned.
What Does It Mean to Align Your Career with Your Core Values?
It doesn’t mean your job is bad.
It doesn’t mean you’re ungrateful.
It means something inside you is longing to matter in a deeper way.
Core values are the principles that guide your decisions and define your fulfillment.
They’re the things that, when honored, make you feel most alive—and when ignored, quietly drain you.
If your values are connection, creativity, and meaning, but your job is filled with rushed tasks, outdated policies, and disconnection from patients…
It’s no wonder you feel off.
You’re living out of sync.
3 Signs You’re Out of Alignment (Even If You Can’t Explain Why)
You dread going to work… but can’t pinpoint exactly why.
It’s not the tasks—it’s the feeling that you’ve outgrown the role.You’re constantly second-guessing yourself.
Misalignment often sounds like self-doubt when really, your soul is saying, "This isn’t a match."You feel invisible.
You’re doing everything “right,” yet you’re not being recognized—or worse, you no longer recognize yourself.
How to Begin Realigning (Gently and Honestly)
You don’t need to quit tomorrow.
You don’t need to blow up your life.
You can start with one question:
What do I deeply care about—and how can I bring more of that into the work I do?
Try this reflection:
When did I last feel proud of how I showed up at work?
What was I doing when I felt the most like myself?
Which of my values felt fully expressed in that moment?
Now ask:
How can I do more of that—even in small ways—right where I am?
Years ago, when I was still doing bedside nursing, I had a patient’s daughter quietly pull me aside after her mom passed.
She said, “You were the only one who didn’t rush. My mom could feel that.”
I didn’t know that moment would become the one I’d come back to when I questioned everything.
Because in that interaction—brief, ordinary, and unscripted—I was living my values: presence, dignity, compassion.
It wasn’t about the charting.
It wasn’t about the title.
It was about who I got to be in that moment.
And that became my new compass.
Why This Matters (Especially as a Filipino Immigrant Nurse)
We were taught to stay.
To keep our heads down.
To work hard, not ask questions, and be grateful.
But being grateful and being fulfilled aren’t mutually exclusive.
You can honor the sacrifices of those who came before you and honor your own voice now.
You can build a life that feels both stable and soulful.
Alignment doesn’t always mean leaving.
Sometimes it means returning—to yourself.
Take a few moments this week.
Sit with a cup of salabat, maybe a journal, and ask:
“Where am I living out of alignment… and what might it look like to come home to myself?”
You don’t have to know all the answers.
But you do deserve to ask the questions.
And in asking, you’ll start to remember:
You’re not here to just survive your career.
You’re here to live it on purpose.
Sign up for my free newsletter, usually sent once a month (and sometimes more often when inspiration strikes!). These are letters from my heart, filled with insights from my personal journey and client work, honest talk about life, and practical tools for managing self-doubt, tapping into inner wisdom, and embracing personal growth.
If you're seeking greater empowerment, satisfaction, and self-confidence, my newsletter will offer a steady source of inspiration, encouragement, and support
