The Alignment Blueprint: How to Reevaluate and Refocus Your Life

"Step back... Ask where your best energy is going—and whether it's going toward what really matters."

Are You Busy or Actually Moving Forward?

Ever feel like you're doing all the things—juggling work, life, habits, relationships—only to realize you’re drained, off track, or unsure if it's what you truly want? You're not alone. In our latest Rise Up Buttercup episode, we’re diving into the underestimated power of self‑assessment—checking in with yourself to ensure you're still headed toward the life you really want.

What’s Self-Assessment Really About?

I’m not talking judgment or shame—there’s none of that here. This is about tuning in with curiosity and compassion. Ask yourself:

• Is what I’m doing actually working?

• Is this still aligned with what I say I want?

• Do these activities energize me—or drain me?

• Would a small tweak shift everything?

Remember: even tiny shifts—a two-degree change—can transform your direction.

When the Cheese Moves, Please Notice

You might recall "Who Moved My Cheese?" (or watch the short YouTube cartoon, 10–13 minutes)—the idea is that things inevitably change. If your "cheese" moves, will you notice? Or will you keep waiting for things to stay the same? Complacency can sink progress.

My Own Drift—and How I Realigned

Let me share a personal moment. I’d moved from Nashville to Raleigh and leaned heavily into corporate training, keynotes, and big workshops. The checks were fat—but I realized I was losing time and income overall. Because the prep, gatekeepers, logistics—they ate up the hours that would’ve been better spent on one-on-one coaching that truly lights me up.

I’d drifted away from my purpose: empowering women to trust themselves, speak up, lead with courage. So I paused. I realigned. I started saying no to things that looked good on paper but didn’t align with what truly matters.

3 Strategies to Pause, Reflect & Redirect

1. Block 30 Minutes Each Month for a Personal Check-In

Schedule 30 minutes—sooner than later—to ask:

• What’s working?

• What’s not?

• What needs more energy?

• What needs to go?

2. Use the “Start–Stop–Continue” Framework

• Start doing what aligns with your goals.

• Stop what’s distracting or draining you.

• Continue what brings results or joy. Joy fuels innovation.

3. Zoom Out—See the Whole Picture

   Step back. Imagine your life like a movie. Look at your health, relationships, spiritual life, creativity, joy. Ask where your best energy is going—and whether it's going toward what really matters.

Why This Matters—And When You’re Not Behind

Discovering that something isn’t working anymore doesn’t mean you’re behind—it means you’re wise. Don’t “should on yourself.” Instead, celebrate:

• I am wise for noticing.

• I am brave for shifting.

• I am powerful for choosing differently.

Every pivot brings you closer to who you're meant to be.

When you give yourself permission to pause, reflect, and realign, you take back control of your direction. You stop living on autopilot and start making intentional choices that lead to joy, fulfillment, and genuine progress.

Self-assessment isn’t about tearing yourself down—it’s about giving yourself the gift of awareness. It’s about noticing where your energy flows, reclaiming your time from what drains you, and pouring it into what lights you up.

The truth is, you don’t need a total life overhaul to see meaningful change. Often, it’s those small, deliberate shifts—a new boundary, a redefined priority, a courageous “no”—that open the door to the future you’ve been craving.

So take that 30-minute check-in. Use the Start–Stop–Continue method. Zoom out and look at your whole life with fresh eyes. Your future self will thank you for every pivot you make toward alignment.

And when doubt tries to convince you that you’re behind, remember this: you are right on time. You are wise for noticing, brave for shifting, and powerful for choosing differently. The next chapter of your story starts with a single intentional step—why not take it today?

I’m here cheering you on, and I can’t wait to see you rise. Let’s do this together.

👉 Listen to the full podcast episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6h1WFamaFrjgWindqhbWHZ?si=xoq5PvsgTdu_WxCmyyyK_Q&nd=1&dlsi=c95fa043d10c4909

👉 Join the RISE UP Community for deeper transformation: https://ahigherwayofliving.com/riseupcommunity

Written by the team at A Higher Way Of Living