The Problem: Drifting Without Direction
Many people feel like life is just happening to them. They keep busy, yet remain unfulfilled, uncertain, and stuck. As John Maxwell reminds us, personal growth won’t occur by accident. Unless you seize this moment to set a new intention, you risk slipping deeper into autopilot—another year gone, no closer to who you want to become.
A Practical Exercise for True Clarity
Write Your 90-Year-Old Vision:
Set aside a quiet hour over the holiday. Imagine yourself at 90, physically strong, mentally sharp, and cherishing close bonds with family and friends. Describe every detail: your living situation, your daily activities, the meaningful conversations you share. Don’t hold back—this is your chance to define the life you truly want.
Work Backwards from Your Vision:
From that inspiring vision, look at what needs to happen at 80, at 70, at 60 to get you there. What habits would protect your health, what friendships would keep you engaged, what work or hobbies would keep your mind active and your heart full? By sketching out these milestones, you create a roadmap that ensures you aren’t leaving your future happiness to chance.
Embody Your Core Qualities Now:
Stephen Covey challenges us to imagine the words spoken at our funeral. Words like “passionate,” “consistent,” and “caring” don’t just appear overnight—you must live them daily. Start leaning into those qualities today. Add a weekly date night with your partner, show up consistently for your workouts, mentor a younger colleague—whatever it takes to nurture those attributes you’ll one day be remembered for.
Seek Wisdom from Those Who’ve Lived It:
Don’t stop at theory. Use these quiet days to reach out to older adults you admire. Ask them what they wish they’d done differently in their 40s. You’ll likely gain insights that help you avoid common regrets and refine your long-term plan.
Why Now?
This isn’t just a convenient break—it’s a critical juncture. Every year you wait, that drift feels more comfortable and that rut deeper. By acting now, before life’s demands roar back, you set a fresh course. If you let this moment pass, you risk another year slipping by, leaving you even more entrenched in patterns that don’t serve you.
Your Next Step
The new year will be here in a flash. Don’t wake up in January wondering where the time went and why nothing’s changed. Use these coming days for a deep reset. If you need support, I’m here. Just contact me, and we can work together to translate your vision into a lasting, life-changing plan.
