You enjoyed challenges, nailed deadlines, and soaked up every chance to improve. You were constantly looking for feedback. Lunches with colleagues were a highlight, and you felt proud of your role. 

But today, that spark is almost entirely gone. Work's a chore—a flatline. The routine’s set, but the joy is vanished. Your work ethic has remained intact and you still complete everything you're supposed to. You are reliable and your colleagues can count on you. But you struggle with feeling any sort of interest or passion. Quarterly reviews echo "meets expectations" on repeat - no surprises. Where's that drive that you once felt? 

Your colleagues (yes, the very people that you trained and mentored) move forward and advance while you feel stuck, rooted to your desk, and craving change. Lunch with colleagues is now irritating you and you find yourself making rather cynical comments - again, this does not sound like you. 

Weekdays blur together and drag, weekends don't refresh like they used to, and you need holidays much more frequently. Doubts about roads not taken and missed opportunities are constantly with you. Maybe you should have done X, listened to Y, and tried Z. Maybe you should have... What if you...

What is certain is that you are comfortable. However, you realize by now that the comfort is only an illusion. You want and need a breath of fresh air, but the air is too stale. In your heart, you know that staying stagnant is no longer an option. And yet, contemplating changing something - anything - feels like too much work and effort. You're not sure whether you have the energy to go through a change, plus you don't know where to start. You don't know where to start because you don't know what you want. The more you think about it, the more "I don't know" you hear yourself saying. Like a broken record. 

The path ahead seems nonexistent. 

Let me assure you: it's there. It might be blurred, it might be foggy, it might be steep but it's there. 

What do you need to start exploring what's around? Is it a pair of walking sticks? A pair of glasses? A walking buddy? Do you have enough water? Is your backpack too heavy? Take a moment to realize where you are right now. What would make things easier for you? 

Sometimes, finding that path ahead requires clearing the fog first, not just finding the road. Don't hesitate to seek guidance. A mentor, a coach (like me!), or even a trusted colleague could be helpful. 

As for your backpack, it might be time to empty it a bit. Release the weight of self-doubt, regrets, and what-ifs. Carrying those doesn't make the journey any easier. Embrace the idea of what could be waiting around the next bend and how much easier it would be to walk around with a lighter backpack.

Remember, change isn't always about a drastic shift; it can start with small steps forward.