When Purpose Feels Heavy

There’s a stretch of the journey no one really talks about.

It shows up right before the good part—just as you’re approaching the thing you’ve worked hard for, longed for, and maybe even fought for. When the finish line finally comes into view, and instead of feeling energized by what’s next… you suddenly feel unsure. Or tired. Or tempted to take a break you didn’t see coming.

It’s not always obvious. It doesn’t show up like doubt or fear in a loud, dramatic way. Sometimes it looks like rearranging your schedule again. Or getting extra “busy.” Or suddenly feeling the urge to put something on hold that, days earlier, felt incredibly aligned.

That internal wobble isn’t a sign of failure. But it is a sign of something deeper that needs your attention.

Because purpose—even when it’s right—is rarely light. It asks for something real from you. It reshapes your identity. It costs energy. And when you’ve been pushing for a while without stopping to refill, the weight of even a meaningful goal can feel like too much.

This is where people often pull back. Not because they’ve lost their drive—but because they’ve lost their margin.

Purpose and Energy Go Hand in Hand

We talk a lot about clarity and discipline and staying focused. Those are all important.

But even the clearest goals won’t land if your energy is shot. You can have the best plan, the right vision, the tools and accountability—but without energy, execution collapses.

That’s why your energy—not just your calendar—is the real measure of what you can handle.

There’s a common illusion that says if we just structure our time better, we’ll get more done. But you can’t out-plan your way around burnout. And you can’t optimize your way through emotional fatigue. At some point, your system overrides your strategy. Your body speaks up. And it doesn’t care how detailed your planner is or how many commitments you’ve made.

It simply says: No more.

What’s wild is that we don’t always notice the drain right away. We think we’re just having an off day or that we need to push through. We tell ourselves we’re fine. Until we’re not.

Most people wait until they’re fully exhausted to realize their energy’s been leaking for months—not because they’re lazy or unmotivated, but because they never stopped to evaluate what was still worth it.

The Slow Leak of Misaligned Effort

The final stretch of a goal or transition is often where the biggest resistance sets in. You’re almost there—but suddenly you start questioning the pace, the direction, or even the point of it all.

You don’t always feel overwhelmed. Sometimes it’s a subtle emotional flatness. A feeling that the spark is gone. Or a hesitancy that wasn’t there before.

You tell yourself you need a break, but it’s not really rest you’re craving—it’s relief. Relief from constantly being “on,” from carrying more than your share, from stretching yourself without replenishment.

And if you're not careful, you’ll take a detour just to escape the discomfort of being in that in-between space—too far in to go back, not quite sure how to move forward.

What makes this even trickier is that, on the outside, things often look fine. You're showing up. Hitting deadlines. Moving forward. But inside, there’s a quiet erosion happening. And eventually, your energy slips low enough that what used to feel purposeful starts to feel heavy.

That’s often when we pull away—not because we’ve lost interest, but because our energy is no longer being supported in a sustainable way.

When something begins to feel off, it doesn’t always mean it’s wrong. It might mean it needs to be rebalanced.

Pulling Away Isn’t Always a Problem—But It Can Be a Pattern

If you’ve ever felt the urge to pause or step back right before reaching a goal, you’re not alone. It happens more often than people realize. Sometimes that pause is wise—it creates space for recalibration and clarity. But other times, it becomes a habit. A quiet form of self-protection that keeps you from the vulnerability of fully showing up.

There’s nothing wrong with taking a break. The issue is when breaks become a way to avoid the internal friction of growth.

Because right before the breakthrough is where your nervous system often feels the most pressure. Even good things can be overwhelming. A new level of visibility, responsibility, or success can stir up old questions: Am I ready for this? Can I hold it? Will this change my life in ways I’m not prepared for?

And those questions, while valid, shouldn’t be the reason you disconnect from what’s calling you.

There’s a way to slow down without stepping out. There’s a way to honor your limits without abandoning your purpose.

It begins with being honest—about what’s fueling you, what’s draining you, and what needs to shift so you can keep going without losing yourself in the process.

Energy Is a Guide

When we treat energy as a limited resource—not a reward we earn for overextending ourselves—we start to live differently.

We become more discerning about our commitments. We start paying attention to what gives us life versus what quietly takes from us. We stop glamorizing the grind and start respecting the rhythm we actually need to sustain purpose over time.

Because real purpose isn’t built in bursts—it’s built in cycles. There are seasons to stretch and seasons to restore. And both are necessary.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to pull back when things get intense. The invitation is to pause with awareness. To reflect instead of react. To make choices based on alignment, not avoidance.

When you do that, you stay connected to what matters. Even when things feel heavy. Even when the next step feels uncertain.

If you’ve been pushing through without checking in—let this be the nudge to reevaluate. Not to quit. Not to shrink. But to realign.

Sometimes the most courageous thing you can do isn’t speeding up.

It’s pressing pause enough to ask yourself: Am I fully living in my purpose?

And then trusting yourself enough to answer honestly.

Yours in health,

Dana VanBrimmer, NBC-HWC

Founder: Live & Develop

Live. Develop. Rebuild with Purpose.