Beyond Sunday Scaries: Liz Bradford on Purpose Alignment and AI Coaching

In a recent LinkedIn post, Liz Bradford explores the root causes of “Sunday dread,” arguing that it stems not from a dislike of one’s job, but from a fundamental misalignment with personal purpose. Bradford, who works with executives, observes that many believe the solution lies in external factors like a new role or higher salary.

However, Bradford posits that the issue is more profound, rooted in a lack of self-understanding regarding one’s true purpose. “Most executives I work with think the solution is a better role, more money, or a different company,” Bradford writes. “The real problem runs deeper: they’ve never done the work to understand their actual purpose.”

“That pit in your stomach? Your nervous system recognising you’re spending 40+ hours a week moving away from who you actually are.”

Unpacking Purpose with AI as a Coach

Bradford introduces a novel approach to uncovering this deeper purpose, leveraging artificial intelligence as a personal coaching tool. With a significant portion of AI usage being personal, Bradford has developed a specific prompt designed to bypass rationalizations and societal conditioning, aiming to elicit more honest self-reflection.

The prompt, inspired by existing AI prompt communities, guides users through a structured process to identify their Ikigai, or reason for being. Bradford emphasizes the need for uncomfortable, direct questions that lead to a clear understanding of one’s core drivers and potential misalignments.

“All questions must be completely neutral, based on visceral imagery, instinctive choice, physical sensation, or immediate preference.”

This method aims to move beyond superficial career fixes and delve into what truly drives an individual. As Bradford notes, the process is designed to be direct and avoid “toxic positivity, abstraction, or generic coaching language.”

Identifying the Gap and Taking Action

Following the initial exploration of purpose, Bradford’s AI-guided process focuses on actionable steps. It seeks to identify the specific behaviors, choices, or constraints that currently create a gap between an individual’s current state and their aligned purpose. The prompt explicitly asks for:

1. The Gap: 3–5 specific behaviours, choices, or constraints that currently keep me misaligned with this purpose.
2. The Leverage Moves: The 3 smallest, highest-impact changes (actions or decisions) that would most directly close that gap.
3. The Proof: Clear signals I would observe in my calendar, energy, or outputs that confirm I am actually moving toward this purpose rather than thinking about it.

Bradford warns that this self-discovery process can reveal uncomfortable truths. “Fair warning: This will show you gaps you can’t unsee,” she states. She challenges readers to consider whether they prioritize comfort over alignment.

“But most people would rather stay comfortable than aligned. Which are you?”

Ultimately, Bradford’s insights suggest that addressing the pervasive feeling of misalignment requires a deep dive into personal purpose, a process she facilitates using AI to encourage honest self-examination and concrete action. Her post serves as a call to action for individuals, particularly executives, to confront their true drivers and make intentional shifts toward a more aligned existence.