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I had an identity crisis after becoming a mom. Hiring a career coach ...
JH Photography/JH Photography 2026-04-08T18:49:01.240Z I struggled with identity and purpose after becoming a mom. I hired a career coach to better understand my strengths and interests. The process helped me find new career paths and regain confidence. Over the nine months of pregnancy with my first baby, I mentally prepared myself for those middle-of-the-night feedings (and the resulting exhaustion), the postpartum mood swings, and other inevitable life changes. One thing I didn't prepare myself for? The identity crisis set in as soon as I became someone's mother. In an effort to navigate this crisis, I decided to work with a career coach for the first time.Time felt more precious than ever to me after bringing my son into the world, and I wanted to make sure I was using it wisely. With so much new meaning in my personal life, I longed to find that meaning in my work. First, I vetted some coaches to find the right fitWhile breastfeeding in the dark one night, I impulsively searched Google and Instagram for career coaches and began emailing a few people. After my first call with Gracie Miller, founder of Live Life Purpose Coaching, I knew I had found my match. The author hired a career coach after the birth of her first baby. Courtesy of the author She explained that her program was designed to suss out A) what unique skills and talents make me valuable in the workforce and B) what causes, activities, and subjects light me up inside, so that, ultimately, I can pinpoint new career possibilities that encompass both. The process helped me home in on my strengths — and build confidenceDuring our first session, I mentioned that a lack of confidence was one of the things holding me back professionally. Fortunately, our sessions together — and the "homework" sheets she assigned me — helped to address that. By identifying my strengths — for example, by reflecting on what people in my life tend to come to me for help with, or by reminiscing about times when I overcame a challenge — I began to feel an increasingly strong sense of self-worth.I also discovered interests I never knew I hadOne of the exercises she assigned me involved recalling times in my life when I felt at my best. I recounted an experience I had giving a motivational speech to a group of patients in an eating disorder treatment program, and told Miller how rewarding it felt to share my success story with them and inspire some much-needed hope on their recovery journey. That triggered anothe...
I Left My Career to Be a Stay-at-Home Mom. I Wasn't Prepared for It ...
NataliaDeriabina/Getty Images 2026-04-04T15:34:01.241Z I left my career at 38 to stay home with my child. I struggled with guilt, identity loss, and my changing relationship with money. Over time, I found purpose and connection through shared experiences. At 38, I faced the toughest decision of my career: whether I wanted to continue working. I had been working since I was a teenager and had never considered not doing so.When my husband and I got married, we discussed what our future would look like with children, and I naively thought it would all work out seamlessly. That I would balance my career and motherhood with ease.Then reality hit.I decided to stay homeAs first-time parents, it was soon evident that the balancing act was an illusion. We decided that I would stay at home with our son during his early years, a decision that left me grappling with a weight I never saw coming. The sleepless nights and endless diapers, those topics get talked about. What blindsided me were the invisible battles. The author quit her job at 38 to stay home. Courtesy of the author On paper, we could make it on my husband's income alone, but life isn't as tidy as a piece of paper. I went in knowing that our lifestyle would change, becoming a one-car family, thrifting more, and eating out less, but what I didn't anticipate was the way my relationship with money would change.I felt guilty when I spent moneyAfter two decades of working, I was used to making and spending my own money. I never felt bad about my monthly manicures, grabbing dinner with friends, or buying my husband a birthday gift.Now, every time I wanted to purchase something a wave of guilt swept over me and I felt as though I was spending someone else's money.While my husband constantly assured me that it was our money, memories of my mom and step-dad arguing over who made more and therefore who was more "valuable" haunted me.Eventually, I found ways to earn a small income outside a traditional 9-to-5, from freelance writing to mystery shopping, until I took on a part-time work-from-home job, which gave me a sense of financial autonomy.My résumé didn't matter anymoreOver the course of my career, I had built up an impressive résumé of experience, industry certifications, and specialized knowledge. When I became a stay-at-home mom, none of it mattered.My days were filled with changing diapers, cleaning up spit-up from the oddest places, and all the other day-to-day responsibilities that come with parent...
Identity Foreclosure in Early Career Choices: Understanding the ...
Commitment is not a static event but an ongoing process of Identity Achievement. Through the moratorium, the individual moves from a state of crisis (exploration) to a state of commitment. This achieved identity is characterised by higher self-esteem and a more sophisticated cognitive style compared to those in foreclosure (Waterman, 1999).
Self Identity Crisis Signs: 5 Signs And How To Rebuild
Self identity crisis signs are not weakness - they signal neurological reorganization. Recognize the 5 indicators and the neuroscience-backed path to.
