Reclaiming Aliveness

How to Realign with Purpose and Zest for Life

Let me share something that’s become increasingly apparent in my coaching sessions recently: so many people have lost the aliveness in their lives. They’ve lost that spark, that zest for life—the fully engaged mind, presence, and vital spirit that makes each day feel meaningful and full of awe.

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to blaze through the day, ticking off task after task, and yet feel that nothing was truly felt, discovered, or celebrated. You might be busy—working hard, managing responsibilities—but feel out of tune with your essence, disconnected from the present moment. You’re moving forward without that sense of purpose or vitality that once made life exciting.

I’ve been working with many people on this issue lately, and the pattern is the same: the issue isn’t lack of achievement; it’s lack of alignment.

Jessica is a senior leader in a fast-growing company. By all accounts, she was successful—her team hit their quarterly targets, she was constantly praised for her work ethic, and her calendar was packed with meetings, projects, and presentations. From the outside, Jessica seemed to have it all together. But inside, she felt hollow, like she was moving through life on autopilot.

Jessica’s days were a blur of emails, deadlines, and decisions. She would start the day by opening her laptop at 6 a.m. and wouldn’t close it until well after dinner, often falling asleep with her phone still in hand. Her to-do list was always growing, and though she was accomplishing tasks, she noticed something troubling—nothing felt truly meaningful anymore.

She hadn’t celebrated a success in months, let alone paused to reflect on how far she and her team had come. She was so busy chasing the next goal that she never felt anything—no joy, pride, or excitement. A project was immediately moved to the next one when it was completed. When her team hit a major milestone, she barely paused to acknowledge it before worrying about the upcoming quarter’s challenges.

At home, Jessica’s family noticed she wasn’t present either. Her husband would try to share news from his day, but she found herself distracted, checking emails or mentally planning for tomorrow. Her kids would ask her to play or help with their homework, but she felt like she was running on empty, unable to give them her full attention.

One day, while sitting in yet another back-to-back meeting, something snapped. A team member mentioned that it had been a year since they launched a major initiative—something that had transformed the company—and yet, no one had even celebrated the anniversary. Jessica realized in that moment that she couldn’t even remember the last time she had felt excited about her work. She was doing so much but feeling so little.

That night, Jessica sat alone in her office and reflected on the past year. She had been so busy running, achieving, and managing that she had lost sight of why she was doing any of it. She felt out of tune with herself and the world around her, and for the first time in a long time, she acknowledged the weight of it.

She realized that she had been chasing external markers of success—promotions, accomplishments, busy schedules—but had neglected the internal markers that truly make life vibrant: joy, presence, connection, and purpose.

Jessica decided it was time to make a change. She started by blocking time in her calendar to reflect each morning, asking herself questions like, "What am I grateful for today?" and "What can I celebrate from yesterday?"

She prioritised presence over productivity in her meetings, choosing to connect with her team on a deeper level. She stopped rushing through milestones and began celebrating them—big or small—with her team and at home with her family.

In time, she realized that it wasn’t about achieving more but aligning with what truly mattered to her. She found her spark again, her aliveness, by reconnecting with her heart, purpose, and joy. As she realigned, she felt lighter, more energized, and more fulfilled than she had in years. The work was still there, but now she was present for it—fully alive and in tune with each moment.

What’s the solution?

It starts with something simple but profound: recognising the impossibility of your own existence. Just pause for a moment and think about the grace and wonder of the universe that somehow led to you, right here, right now. You are alive. You exist. And that in itself is a miracle.

When you remind yourself of this—when you really tap into the energy and expansiveness that created your very next breath—you can start to realign with that force. This means reconnecting with your heart, your true self, and the moment. It’s about reviving the spark within you through self-awareness, which often requires real, deep coaching conversations. Conversations that help you understand where you’ve lost connection with yourself and guide you back to your inner aliveness.

In essence, it’s about learning to generate your own energy. This doesn’t happen by accident; it’s a practice. Just like athletes train their muscles, you need to train yourself to tap into the vitality of each moment to bring back the enthusiasm and vibrancy that make life rich.

Realign, Don’t Just Achieve

What I’ve seen over and over again is that the problem many people face isn’t the lack of success or productivity, it’s that they’re not aligned with their true desires, passions, and purpose. They’re pursuing goals that might look good on paper, but they’re not deeply connected to what makes them come alive.

When you’re out of alignment, no amount of achievement will feel fulfilling. You need to realign to your human aspirations—the things that bring you joy, purpose, and meaning. This could be a passion project, a mission you believe in, or a shift in the way you approach your work and relationships.

But here’s the key: alignment requires deep self-awareness. It means you need to take the time to understand what truly lights you up, how you define meaning, and how your thoughts are shaping your life. Most of all, you need to learn to manage those thoughts better so they serve you rather than sabotage you.

Self-Improvement: A Way of Life

Here’s the truth I’ve learned from working with high performers: Nothing matters unless you engage. The most successful people I know don’t just focus on external wins; they make self-improvement a way of life. They commit to the inner work - every day - not just to win at their careers, but to win at life.

These people do the hard work of self-discovery. They face their fears, let go of their pasts, and stand tall in their fullness. They know that every day is an opportunity—a gift—to grow, engage, and feel alive.

And that’s the secret to winning life—not just surviving or moving through the motions, but truly living with zest, joy, and purpose. It’s about showing up fully present, feeling the awe, beauty, and wonder of life, and creating meaning in every moment.

Keep Doing the Work

So if you’re feeling disconnected or out of alignment right now, know you’re not alone. But also know this: it’s possible to reclaim that aliveness. It’s possible to reconnect with your purpose, energy, and zest for life. But it starts with you.

Do the inner work. Tap back into your heart—practice generating energy and realigning with what truly matters to you. And remember, every single day is an opportunity to grow.

We’re all cheering you on. Keep doing the work, my friend.

Because the world needs your aliveness.