The Garden Path

In this week’s parable The Garden Path, we’re invited to reflect on the moments we find ourselves out of sync—still moving, still achieving, but somehow no longer aligned. That image of a leader stepping off a straight, controlled path to explore a quieter, winding one speaks to something I’ve felt many times in my own life.

There were seasons where everything looked right on paper. I had the job. The title. The growth trajectory. I was working with great people at reputable companies with long-term potential and financial stability. From the outside, it looked like success. But on the inside, something always felt a little...off.

It was a quiet knowing—a subtle inner ache that whispered, There’s more. Not necessarily more money or prestige, but more meaning. More connection. More alignment with who I really am and what I deeply care about.

I’ve come to realize that the feeling of misalignment doesn’t always show up as a crisis. Sometimes, it shows up as restlessness. A longing. A Sunday night heaviness that’s hard to explain. It often comes when the ladder you’ve been climbing no longer feels like it’s leaning against the right wall.

Over the years, I’ve sought out new roles, started new projects, and even launched entirely new chapters of my career—not just for advancement, but in search of that deeper “why.” Whether it was a pursuit of more purpose-led work, more creative expression, or the desire to serve in a way that felt authentic, I was always searching for something that resonated with both my heart and my skillset.

What’s been comforting to learn is that I’m not alone in this.

In fact, there’s a growing movement—quiet but undeniable—of people stepping off their own straight paths in pursuit of something more meaningful.

A recent CareerBuilder survey revealed that nearly one-third of workers who changed careers did so to follow a passion, while 28% did it to make a positive difference in the world. Similarly, an edX survey found that 21% of respondents shifted careers due to a growing interest in another field—evidence of a deep, internal pull toward something more aligned.

These numbers reflect a cultural shift that’s been quietly building for years, and which accelerated dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic. The so-called “Great Resignation” wasn’t just about burnout or remote work—it was a mass awakening. People began asking harder questions: Does this still fulfill me? Am I doing what I was made to do? For many, the answer was no.

In Australia, for example, nearly one in ten workers changed jobs last year—the highest rate in a decade—with many seeking greater flexibility, values alignment, and purpose. Closer to home, nearly 44% of workers aged 35 to 64 say they’ve changed careers in pursuit of personal and professional development. Perhaps most strikingly, a survey found that 64% of millennials would take a 60% pay cut to do work aligned with their passions. That’s not just a trend—that’s a collective realignment.

And while statistics help paint the picture, they also affirm something deeply personal. I know that longing. I’ve lived it. I still live it.

My career journey hasn’t been one clean narrative. It’s been winding—sometimes bold, sometimes uncertain—but always guided by that deeper desire to live and lead with purpose. To use my voice, my gifts, my energy for something that brings light to others. And I know now that part of the journey is the realignment. We don’t always get it right the first time. Or the second. But the courage is in listening to that inner nudge and adjusting when things no longer feel true.

What struck me most about The Garden Path parable is that the leader doesn’t abandon everything—they simply choose to walk differently. That resonates with me. Realignment doesn’t mean discarding all you’ve built; it means redirecting your energy toward something that reflects who you’ve become.

There’s a lot of grace in that.

I think many of us are in a season of realignment. Whether it’s a new role, a shift in how we lead, or even just how we show up each day, we’re finding ways to move with more intention. More heart. More alignment between what we say we value and how we live and work.

If you find yourself feeling a little out of sync, know this: You’re not broken. You’re being invited to realign. And you don’t need a complete overhaul to start. Sometimes, it’s as simple as one new decision. One honest conversation. One small step onto a new path.

So ask yourself:
What feels alive for me right now?
Where am I out of alignment—and what would it look like to return to center?

The path may not be perfectly mapped. But that’s the beauty of it.

The garden path isn’t linear.
It’s honest. It’s alive.
And it just might lead you somewhere more beautiful than you ever expected.