Your Mid-Year Huddle: Designing a Life That Fulfills You
July always sneaks up on me, it’s the unofficial marker that summer is here and we’re halfway through the year. Before we know it, Annual Enrollment will begin, the holidays follow, and boom! Another year behind us.
With two daughters in competitive volleyball, this time of year feels a lot like a halftime huddle. The first set is done. Now’s the time to regroup, review what’s working, make adjustments, and refocus so we can finish the year strong.
The same goes for our life goals.
I’m just at the beginning of Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans (check it out at designingyour.life). They bring design thinking into life planning, teaching how to creatively solve problems in both work and life.
One idea that really hit home is how our workview and lifeview can align or conflict.
I’ve always believed we should love what we do. Not every day will feel magical, but overall, our work should bring fulfillment and joy. It doesn’t need to be world-changing work, but it should feel meaningful to you.
For me, that means positively impacting our clients, our team, and our community. It means doing work that aligns with my core values.
Darren Hardy said it best:
“The wisest and most motivating choices are the ones aligned with that which you identify as your purpose, your core self, and your highest values.” (A-Z Quotes)
If you value humane treatment of animals, for instance, working at a facility that tests on animals would conflict with your values and drain you over time.
We spend so much of our lives at work, often at the expense of family time. That sacrifice should feel worthwhile. Whatever work we do, let’s strive to do it with excellence.
But what happens when we stop working?
That’s a transition I see often with our retiring clients and even with my own parents. Without a new sense of purpose, a life’s direction can shift dramatically. Many of us say things like, “I’ll travel when I retire,” or “I’ll pick up gardening when I retire.” But here’s the truth: we’re living longer, and retirement might now be a third of our lives. Financial planning matters but planning what we’ll do with our time is just as critical.
Research highlights why this matters: retirees who set clear, meaningful goals in retirement tend to enjoy better physical and mental health, reducing anxiety, loneliness, and cognitive decline (Wiley Online Library).
That’s why I talk so much about goal setting, not just for work, but for life. Goals don’t have to be grand, but they should reflect your values and give you purpose. Maybe it’s improving your golf swing or biking more—tie it to a deeper intention: “I want to stay active and healthy.”
And there’s the mental side too:
What wisdom, skills, or experiences can you share? Maybe it’s consulting a couple of hours a week or mentoring a student. Imagine how rewarding it is to help someone choose a path that aligns with their strengths, just like you’ve done.
So here we are—mid-July. Before the year speeds away, take a moment:
When the New Year bell rings, what will make you smile and think, ‘This was a WONDERFUL and impactful year’?
Share it with us in the comments below, and let’s design the second half of 2025 together.
West Compass Insurance
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