How to Spot Misalignment (Even When Everything Looks Fine)

You don’t have to burn out to know something’s not working. You just have to get honest with yourself.

This is Part 1 of a 3-part series to help you recognize, reframe, and realign your career —so you can finally stop forcing a fit and start doing work that fits you.

At one point in my career, I had everything I thought I was supposed to want: the title, the benefits, the coveted six-figure salary that said “I made it.”
But I still felt like I was slowly disappearing.

And the scariest part?
No one else could see it—but I couldn’t un-feel it.

Misalignment is tricky.
It doesn’t always show up as drama.
Sometimes it’s just a quiet ache.
A tension in your body during meetings.
A habit of bracing yourself before Monday mornings.

It’s easy to ignore because “everything looks fine.”
But that’s how we lose ourselves—by explaining away the signs that something’s no longer right.

Here are 3 subtle signals of misalignment I see over and over again in high-achieving professionals:

1. You’re performing success, not experiencing it.
You know how to smile, show up, check the boxes—but inside you’re disconnected. Going through the motions. Feeling like a shell of yourself.

2. You’re constantly adapting—without even noticing.
You’ve become a master of fitting into rooms that don’t fit you. You water down your presence, minimize your needs, and dim your brilliance while calling it “being a team player.”

3. You feel guilty for wanting more.
You tell yourself you should be grateful. But a part of you is restless. Not because you’re entitled—but because something is out of sync with who you are now.

Sound familiar?

You’re not the only one.
And you’re not broken.
You’re just misaligned.

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If this resonates, just know this is only the beginning.

Let’s untrap what’s true—one layer at a time.

—Shannon