Red Flags Your Job Might Be Draining Your 'Purpose'
Oluwatobi (Tobi) Adekunle
Experienced B2B/B2C Marketing Professional & Business Strategist with 12+ Years in Growth & Product Marketing, Digital Strategy and Execution Across SaaS, FinTech, PropTech, AdTech and Retail.
At the start of every career journey, most of us have high hopes. We believe we’ll do meaningful work, grow in our talents, and make a difference. But somewhere along the way, reality hits. The job that once sparked joy may begin to feel like a chore. You wake up dreading Mondays, your motivation slips, and your inner compass, your sense of purpose, starts to wobble.
If that resonates, you're not alone. Many professionals stay too long in jobs that slowly drain their energy, creativity, and passion. The scariest part? It often happens so gradually that you don’t notice until burnout or bitterness sets in. But it doesn’t have to be that way. If you can spot the red flags early, you can take action to realign your work with your purpose
Frederick Buechner said, Purpose is the place where your deep gladness meets the world’s deep need.”
I will be sharing some red flags and examples you should take note of in your professional journey.
1) You Feel Emotionally Numb or Constantly Exhausted
Purpose energises you. Even when the work is hard, there's a sense of fulfilment. But when your job is consistently draining without refuelling you, emotional numbness sets in. You stop caring, not because you’re lazy, but because you’re depleted.
“Burnout is not just about being tired. It’s about being emotionally depleted.” – Dr. Sherrie Bourg Carter
Let's look at this example, David, a primary school teacher, once felt deeply fulfilled shaping young minds and creating engaging lesson plans. But after a leadership change, the school adopted a rigid, test-focused curriculum. There was no room for creativity, student connection, or passion projects—just performance data and inspection prep. “I became a robot in a classroom,” David shared. “I wasn’t teaching—I was training kids to pass exams.” The emotional toll built up until he found himself frequently sick and unmotivated. That’s when he knew it wasn’t just stress—it was a loss of purpose.
2) You're No Longer Growing or Learning
Purpose is tied to progress. A stagnant environment feels like a trap. If your role is repetitive, lacks challenges, or offers no opportunities for skill-building, it’s likely draining you rather than developing you.
Red Flag Indicators:
“When you stop growing, you start dying.” – William S. Burroughs
Think of a tree planted in a small pot, it can’t grow beyond its container. That’s what your job might be doing to your sense of self.
3) Your Values Are in Conflict with Company Culture
A deep sense of purpose often stems from alignment between who you are and where you work. If your company cuts corners, treats people poorly, or prioritises profit over people, and that clashes with your ethics, it chips away at your sense of integrity. I know an HR professional who left a role after discovering the company frequently ignored employee complaints to avoid legal issues. In his words, he said, “I couldn’t be the kind of leader I wanted to be,” he said. “And that made me question everything.”
4) You’re Just a Cog in the Machine
Purpose flourishes when you see the impact of your work. But in some jobs, employees are treated as interchangeable tools. You’re not consulted, your ideas are ignored, and your role feels mechanical.
Red Flag Phrases:
When was the last time your contribution made someone’s life better or led to change? If it’s hard to recall, that’s a warning sign.
5) You Dread Going to Work (Every Day)
Someone once said “If you dread every Monday, you’re living for only two days a week.” Everyone has tough days, but if you’re consistently filled with dread, anxiety, or depression about work, it’s not just a bad week, it’s a deeper misalignment.
Red Flag:
The dread doesn’t go away after a vacation or a break. It returns stronger, because the problem isn’t rest—it’s a lack of alignment.
Imagine being in a relationship where every day feels like walking on eggshells. You’d leave. The same logic should apply to toxic work situations.
6) You Feel Invisible or Unappreciated
It was Brené Brown who said “Feeling seen and valued is a basic human need.” Purpose grows in places where people are acknowledged. When you do great work and no one notices—or worse, someone else takes credit—it erodes your sense of worth.
Workplace Symptoms:
7) You Feel Like You’re Wasting Time
One of the clearest signs your job is draining your purpose is a constant sense of futility. You start asking, “Why am I even doing this?” Tasks feel meaningless. Meetings go nowhere. Projects get scrapped after months of effort.
Common Thought Patterns:
If you quit tomorrow, what would actually change in the world? If the answer is “nothing,” that might be your sign.
8) You’re Compromising Your Dreams for a Paycheck
“Don’t trade your dream for a salary.” – Jon Acuff
Financial stability matters—but not at the cost of lifelong regret. Many people stay in high-paying roles they hate because they fear starting over. But the longer you stay, the more distant your dream becomes.
Katie, a banker, always wanted to be a public speaker. “I kept telling myself I’d leave after the bonus, then after the promotion,” he recalls. Ten years passed. When she finally left, she said, “I wish I’d started sooner.”
9. You Can’t Be Yourself at Work
Authenticity is key to purpose. If you feel the need to constantly mask your identity, suppress your passions, or play a role that doesn’t reflect who you are, you’re slowly disconnecting from your core.
“Be yourself—everyone else is already taken.” – Oscar Wilde
Red Flag Scenarios:
Purpose can't thrive where authenticity dies. If your workplace doesn’t allow you to be you, it’s time to consider other spaces where you can show up fully.
10. You Daydream About Quitting (All the Time)
I was at an event where the speaker said “If you think about quitting every week, you already have—mentally.” It’s normal to dream about vacation. But if your default fantasy is escaping your job entirely, your subconscious is waving a red flag.
Tell-Tale Signs:
What to Do If You Recognise These Red Flags
Don’t Panic—Reflect
Start by journaling what you’re feeling and why. Name the red flags. Awareness is the first step to change.
Have Honest Conversations
Talk to a mentor, coach, or trusted friend. Sometimes the act of verbalising your frustration brings clarity.
Revisit Your Vision and Plans
What matters to you beyond the job title? Is it creativity, service, freedom, or leadership? Realign your goals with those deeper values.
Make a Plan to Transition
You don’t have to quit tomorrow. But you can start exploring. Take online courses. Volunteer in areas you're passionate about. Build a runway, not a cliff.
Explore Internal Opportunities
Sometimes, the issue isn’t the company, it’s the role. Look for departments or projects that better align with your purpose.
Aviation Consultant at Private Charter
4mo"Wow! This is good! I hope people still take time to read in this age. That one particular phrase 👉 "Financial stability matters—but not at the cost of lifelong regret".