7 Questions to Reset Your Focus and Reclaim Your Future
In the fast pace of daily life and business, it’s easy to get caught up in the to-do lists, the client calls, the meetings, the emails, and the never-ending cycle of “what’s next.”
But what’s far less common—and far more powerful—is taking intentional time to pause and ask ourselves the bigger questions.
Not the surface-level stuff. The real questions. The kind that make us sit up a little straighter, get quiet with ourselves, and take an honest look at where we’re headed.
This week, I want to share a series of seven reflection questions that I’ve personally found to be incredibly powerful. They’re not about judgment or guilt. They’re about clarity, alignment, and taking ownership of the direction of your life and business.
You don’t need to send your answers to anyone. You don’t need to explain yourself.
But I do encourage you to carve out space to answer them—truthfully, privately, and courageously.
Because when you give yourself the gift of honest reflection, you unlock the power to create real, lasting change.
Let’s dive in.
1. If you keep your current habits, in 5 years, will your life be better or worse?
This one hits hard—and it should.
So often, we think of growth as something that happens in bursts: the big leap, the new job, the exciting launch, the life-changing opportunity. But most of our future is shaped by the habits we practice daily.
What time do you wake up?
What do you consume (mentally, physically, emotionally)?
How do you manage your time?
How often do you stretch yourself outside of your comfort zone?
If nothing changed—and you continued living exactly the way you are now—what kind of life would you be living in five years?
Would you be proud of it? Energized by it? Fulfilled in it?
Or would you feel stuck, exhausted, disconnected, or behind?
This question isn’t meant to scare you. It’s meant to help you get clear on whether your daily behaviors are building the life you actually want—or quietly sabotaging it.
2. Are your actions aligned with what you want, or just what others expect?
We’re surrounded by expectations. From our industry. Our clients. Our friends. Our families. Even from ourselves.
But expectations aren’t the same as alignment.
Alignment means that your actions reflect your true values and desires, not just what other people want from you—or what you think you’re “supposed” to want.
Take a moment and ask:
Are you working this hard because it fulfills you—or because you're afraid to fall behind?
Are your goals really yours—or are they borrowed from someone else’s definition of success?
Are your days filled with what matters—or just what’s expected?
This is your life. Your career. Your time.
Make sure the path you're walking is one you chose—on purpose.
3. What part of your life needs to change—and why haven’t you done it yet?
We all have something we’ve been putting off.
A habit we want to break
A relationship that needs boundaries
A career move we keep thinking about
A project we’ve started (and restarted) a dozen times
Change is hard. Not because we don’t know what to do—but because it’s easier to stay in what’s familiar than to face the discomfort of doing things differently.
So ask yourself:
What’s the change you know needs to happen?
What story are you telling yourself about why it hasn’t happened yet?
What would be possible if you finally decided to act on it?
You don’t need to take massive action today. But awareness is the first step—and courage is the next.
4. What is the bravest thing you could do today?
Bravery doesn’t always look like bold public moves.
Sometimes, bravery is quiet. Personal. Inward.
It could be:
Saying no to something that’s not aligned
Owning a mistake instead of hiding it
Taking the first step toward a long-postponed goal
Having the tough conversation
Sharing something vulnerably with someone you trust
Courage compounds. Every time you do something brave, you expand your capacity for more.
So what’s the one brave thing you could do today?
Even if it’s small—even if it’s scary—do it anyway.
5. What current habit is stopping you from making progress?
It’s easy to focus on what we should be adding to our routines—more productivity, more structure, more tools.
But sometimes the most powerful shifts come from subtraction.
What’s one habit that’s holding you back?
Mindless scrolling?
Overbooking yourself?
Skipping the hard tasks and prioritizing what feels easy?
Procrastinating on follow-up?
Saying yes to everything?
We all have at least one thing we’re doing that’s quietly eroding our energy, focus, or momentum.
Identify it. Call it out. And then take one step toward breaking the cycle.
6. What was the best day you’ve had this month—and can you plan more days like that?
This one is fun—but revealing.
Think back to the best day you’ve had in the last 30 days.
What made it great?
Was it filled with connection?
Were you focused and productive?
Did it include time with people you love?
Were you doing something meaningful?
Often, our best days aren't the most extravagant—they’re the most aligned.
They reflect our values. Our energy. Our joy.
So what made that day so good? And more importantly—how can you replicate it?
Success isn’t just about reaching goals—it’s about creating a life that feels great along the way.
7. What is something you love that you’ve given up—and can you start again?
As life gets busier, it’s easy to let go of the things we love.
We stop painting.
We stop reading for fun.
We stop taking walks, dancing in the kitchen, playing music, or calling that friend who lights us up.
We tell ourselves we’ll pick it back up when we have more time. But that time never magically appears.
So instead—bring it back.
Even if it’s just 10 minutes a week. Even if it’s imperfect. Even if it feels silly or self-indulgent.
Whatever fills you up isn’t optional—it’s essential.
So what did you used to love that you stopped making space for?
And what would it take to start again?
Ask Better Questions, Live a Better Life
The quality of your life is shaped by the quality of the questions you ask yourself.
Not once a year. Not just during big moments of transition. But regularly.
Because clarity doesn’t come from doing more—it comes from getting still, tuning in, and asking the right questions.
So this week, I invite you to pause. Reflect. Write. Be honest with yourself.
You don’t need to share your answers.
But you do need to answer them—for you.
Because your growth, your peace, and your potential are all on the other side of reflection and aligned action.
-AD
