Self-Reflection Exercise: Uncovering What You Enjoy

Many people build their careers based on what they’re good at, what’s practical, or what earns them praise—without stopping to ask:

• Do I actually enjoy this?
• Would I still love doing this if no one acknowledged it?

This exercise will help you uncover the activities that truly bring you joy by identifying patterns in your past experiences. By the end, you’ll have a clearer idea of what makes work meaningful and energizing for you.

Prepare for the Exercise

This exercise will take about 15–20 minutes. To get the most out of it, find a quiet place where you can focus without interruptions.

🧘 Set yourself up for success:

• Sit in a comfortable position, feet flat on the ground.
• Close your eyes and take three deep breaths—inhale deeply, hold for a moment, and exhale slowly.
• Let go of distractions and bring your attention to yourself.

When you feel calm and present, begin the exercise.

Step 1: Identify Moments of True Joy

Take out a notebook or open a blank document. You’ll write down specific moments from different stages of your life when you felt truly engaged, fulfilled, or excited about what you were doing.

You’ll go through three stages:

1. Your professional career (first job and beyond)
2. Your college or grad school years
3. Your childhood and teenage years

For each stage, reflect on your experiences and write down the moments when you felt real joy or excitement. Don’t overthink it—just write what comes to mind.

1. First Job & Professional Career

• Think about all the jobs you’ve had so far.
• What were the moments when you felt the most energized, engaged, or excited?
• These can be specific projects, tasks, or situations.

📌 Examples:

• I loved working on a project where I collaborated with a small, smart team to solve a tough problem.
• I enjoyed mentoring a junior colleague and seeing them grow.
• I felt excited when I presented a strategy to leadership and they acted on it.

2. College & Grad School Years

• Think about the activities, projects, or classes that you truly enjoyed during college or grad school.
• What kinds of work made you lose track of time?
• Were there moments when you felt completely in your element?

📌 Examples:

• I loved conducting research and analyzing data for a project—it felt like solving a puzzle.
• I enjoyed leading study groups and helping my classmates understand complex topics.
• I felt energized when I participated in group discussions where everyone exchanged ideas freely.

3. Childhood & Teenage Years

• Think back to your early years—before career concerns shaped your choices.
• What activities naturally made you happy?
• Were there things you did just for fun that you now overlook?

📌 Examples:

• I loved writing stories and creating imaginary worlds.
• I enjoyed planning school events because I liked organizing things.
• I was always the one explaining things to friends in a way that made them excited to learn.

Once you’ve written down your moments of joy from all three stages, move on to the next step.

Step 2: Would You Still Love It If No One Knew?

Now, review your list and ask yourself:

🤔  Would I still love doing this if no one knew about it?

For each moment, be honest—were you drawn to the actual work, or did you enjoy it because of the recognition, praise, or rewards that came with it?

📌 Examples:

• I got public praise for my work on a big project, but when I think about the fun part, it was actually brainstorming with my team.
• I liked winning competitions, but I now realize I actually enjoyed structuring ideas, not the competition itself.

If a moment was mostly about external validation, cross it out. Keep only the moments that you’d still love even if no one acknowledged them.

Step 3: Distill the Essence

Now, look at the moments you kept and ask yourself:

🤔 What do they have in common?

• Even if the project, company, or people change, what are the core qualities that made these experiences fulfilling?
• What patterns do you notice?

This step helps you identify the key elements that create fulfilling work for you, no matter where you are or what role you’re in.

📌 Examples:

• I thrive when I’m solving complex problems with a team.
• I feel most engaged when I’m mentoring or coaching others.
• I love crafting compelling stories and presenting ideas in a clear way.

Write down the recurring themes that emerge from your list. These are the guiding principles that will help you identify your ideal work environment and role.

Final Reflection

Take a moment to reflect:

• What surprised you about this exercise?
• Did you notice patterns that you hadn’t considered before?
• How does this influence what kind of work you want to do next?

By completing this exercise, you now have a clearer understanding of what makes work meaningful and enjoyable for you. Keep these insights in mind as you move forward in your career transition.

Next Step: Now that you know what you truly enjoy, we’ll explore your core values to ensure your next career move aligns with what matters most to you.

This is one of the exercises we do in the Women Leaders Club. Want to dive deeper and explore more like this? Join us!