How Hiring a Career Coach Helped Me Survive My Postpartum Identity Crisis
When I was pregnant, I prepared for everything. The sleepless nights, the hormonal rollercoaster, the complete upheaval of my daily routine. What I never saw coming was losing my sense of self the moment I became a mother.
That identity crisis hit me harder than I expected — and it sent me searching for answers in an unlikely place: a career coach.
The Moment I Knew I Needed Help
Time took on a whole new weight after my son was born. I found myself breastfeeding at 2 a.m., phone in hand, Googling career coaches. Something in me needed to find meaning beyond the beautiful, exhausting fog of new motherhood.
After a few calls, I connected with Gracie Miller of Live Life Purpose Coaching — and knew immediately she was the right fit. Her approach was simple but powerful: help me uncover what I'm genuinely good at, and what actually lights me up, then map where those two things intersect.
What the Process Actually Looked Like
Our sessions weren't just pep talks. Miller assigned real homework — reflection worksheets, exercises, personality assessments — that pushed me to think about myself in ways I'd been avoiding for years.
One exercise asked me to recall moments when I felt truly at my best. I described giving a motivational speech to patients at an eating disorder treatment program, and suddenly realized something I'd never consciously acknowledged: I love public speaking. Another worksheet had me list topics I could talk about endlessly — hello, psychology, and true crime.
I also retook the Myers-Briggs personality test for the first time since college. Turns out I'd shifted from an ENFP to an INFJ. Motherhood had quietly changed me, and now I had language for it.
The Unexpected Discoveries
Some of the most valuable moments came from questions I'd never thought to ask myself — like what my ideal work environment actually looks like. Through a simple multiple-choice exercise, I realized I work better alone than in a team, and that I thrive without rigid deadlines. Small things, maybe, but knowing them changes how you approach a job search entirely.
Miller also introduced me to careers I didn't know existed: narrative coach, director of brand storytelling, trend researcher. I'd never have stumbled onto these on my own. Now I have LinkedIn alerts set for all of them.
The Part That Changed Everything
The most challenging — and most valuable — assignment was writing a personal mission statement. Not a career objective, but a reason for getting up in the morning.
Mine is still evolving, but I landed on this: "To uplift and influence others, inspiring a sense of hope and belonging."
I now use it as a filter for every opportunity I consider.
The Bigger Takeaway
Becoming a mother cracked something open in me. Working with a career coach didn't just help me update my resume — it helped me figure out who I am now, what I value, and where I want to go next.
If you're standing at a crossroads — whether after a major life change or simply after years of operating on autopilot — the investment might be more transformative than you expect.