Welcome to Day 3 of A Week of Living Brilliantly.
Dr. Jason Fox is a friend of mine and one of the most interesting humans I know. He calls himself a wizard-philosopher — which feels about right — and he’s on a quest to make the world more curious and kind.
One of the ways he does this? By offering a refreshingly simple alternative to the way most of us set goals.
The Lesson:
You’ve likely heard of SMART goals. (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-bound — for those who haven’t, or for those who need a reminder.)
They’re great if you’re training for a 10k run. But less useful if you’re trying to navigate the glorious, messy, complex adventure of life.
Jason suggests something simpler to guide your growth: choose one word.
Not a to-do list. Not a detailed action plan. Just one word that becomes your North Star.
It might be playful (Pirate, Fool, Wizard).
It might be grounding (Steady, Release, Deepen).
It might be energizing (Leap, Thrive, Ignite).
And you get to choose the horizon.
Maybe this word guides you for the week.
Maybe for the month.
Maybe the quarter.
Maybe the whole year.
Here’s the magic:
- When you drift (and you will), the word calls you back.
- If you share it, others can help you live into it.
- It doesn’t “fix” anything, but it shapes how you move through projects, relationships, and the season you’re in.
The invitation
Pick your word. And pick your horizon.
Do you want a word for this week? This month? This quarter? This year?
There’s no wrong answer.
Write it down and share it with someone you trust. Let it shape your choices, your projects, even your mornings.
Remember: it’s a direction, not a destination.
Your turn
- If you were to choose one word (right now, just take your best guess) to guide you for the next stretch of time — week, month, quarter, or year — what could it be?
- Once you’ve landed on a word, what does it invite or make possible? Where are you hoping that word-guide might lead you?
A Week of Living Brilliantly is a free mini-course designed to spark new ideas, gently poke your thinking, and maybe (hopefully) even delight you.
Seven days. Seven different teachers who’ve shaped me. One short lesson each day from September 29–October 5.
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