Intelligent.Clear.Design.
Curious.Conscious.Change.
Happy Friday — I hope it’s a joyful one!
Here’s an exercise, idea, and quote to spark change, consciousness, and curiosity.
Change
Exercise to discover your personal values:
The ultimate goal of living by a personal code of ethics and values can be summed up in one word.
Clarity.
Clarity on:
How to treat others
What matters to you
What isn’t a priority
How you want to spend your time
What brings you joy and fulfilment
What leads to sustainable well-being
What stimulates your curiosity
What makes you feel present
What you value in jobs, hobbies, and relationships
How to manage your money
What you want to pursue
How you want to be treated
This isn’t an exhaustive list, but if you followed through on the answers to the questions outlined above — it would be a life well lived.
“Living by a set of core values gives you the clarity you need to live each day in lockstep with what matters to you.”
The exercise below will support your discovery and offer offer a simple way to prioritize what truly matters.
Exercise:
Step 1: Answer the questions bullet-listed above and include any other areas of your life you want clarity on.
Step 2: With that clarity, identify one area where you’re not living how you’d like to.
Step 3: Using your answer from step 2, clearly document one micro-step you will take to live more aligned with your values in that area.
(Step 3 is crucial in the process of change. The step from where you are now to where you want to be must be so easy to take that it would almost be harder not to do. The goal isn’t to be exactly where you want to be in one step. It is to make small, sustainable progress toward it. Despite what social media portrays, change is slow, and you’ll never make progress by trying to overhaul everything at once. Take one area and break it into micro-goals. Repeat from there over a long period.)
Step 4: Take your phone out and do two things: Schedule a time to complete the micro-step and set an alarm reminder for it.
Step 5: Share your goal with someone you trust. Perhaps consider adding a penalty your accountability partner will receive if you don’t do it. It doesn’t have to be financial. Some form of accountability matters most here.
Step 6: Do it.
(Sounds redundant, yet it is the most important step. Planning is not doing. You have to go and do the thing. Again, make it as easy as possible. Momentum will take over.)
If you find this exercise valuable, have questions, or need accountability support — I’d love to hear from you. Simply reply to this email.
Conscious
Idea to keep in mind as you set goals:
“Remarkable constructs aren’t built on weak foundations.”
An architect can create beautiful designs, but if built on the wrong foundations — dreams will turn to rubble.
When it comes to goals and behaviours, ask yourself — Am I building from a place of ego, or from a knowingness that I am good no matter what? Is it aligned with who I am, or am I doing it to fit an identity?
The ego is like a house of cards that are one whoosh of wind away from collapsing.
I’ve made these mistakes, so hopefully, this idea helps you avoid the same pitfalls.
Curious
Quote about the relationship between intelligence and curiosity:
Want to become more intelligent? Become more curious.
Live Free,
Niall
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Love these prompts, thank you!