Because no one ever looked back and wished they’d spent more time sorting socks.

Ever start the day with grand plans to be productive—maybe write something profound, create something meaningful—only to find yourself reorganizing the junk drawer instead? Just me? Cool, I’ll pretend I’m not alone here.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about what I wish I did more of every day. Not the obvious stuff like “nap” or “magically make money appear” (though, let’s be honest, tempting). I mean the things that actually make life hum—the things that fuel passion, meaning, and the whole living from the inside out thing I keep talking about.

So, here’s my upside-down list—because sometimes the best way forward is flipping everything on its head.

1. Create Like a Kid (Without the Sugar Crash)

You ever watch a kid draw? No fear, no filter—just go. No inner critic telling them their giraffe looks like a mutant horse. Somewhere along the way, I let that critic take the driver’s seat. But what if I didn’t? What if I let myself make something bad on purpose? A messy sketch. A rambling blog post. A doodle that looks more like roadkill than art. Maybe creating without caution isn’t about perfection—it’s about freedom.

2. Talk Deep, Skip the Small Stuff

“How’s the weather?” Fine. “How’s life?” Busy. Sound familiar? I don’t know about you, but I’d rather have the heart-level conversations. The “what’s really going on?” talks. Last week, I swapped out the usual “How’s your day?” for “What’s been keeping you up at night?” and it led to one of the best conversations I’ve had in a long time. More of that. Less filler.

3. Borrow My Kids’ Superpower

Henry and Lucy can turn a cardboard box into a spaceship in under ten minutes. Meanwhile, I’ll sit there debating if my eBook’s font is “inspirational enough.” What if I borrowed their imagination? Jumped into their after-dinner doodle chaos instead of scrolling on my phone? The outcome wouldn’t matter—just being in it would. Bonus: I get major dad points.

4. Follow Passion, Not Just Plans

Plans are great. They keep the lights on. But passion? That’s what turns a Tuesday into something worth remembering. I used to wait for the “perfect time” to write Living from the Inside Out. But—spoiler—it never came. So I started anyway. Messy. Imperfect. Completely upside-down. Passion doesn’t wait for a clear schedule. It just needs you to start.

5. Abide, Because Hustle Is Overrated

For years, I thought the secret to a meaningful life was to push harder. Strive more. Hustle. Turns out, I was wrong. The more I lean into abiding—resting in God, trusting His timing—the more peace I find. Jesus flipped the script on success, and I’m learning that sometimes the best way forward is to stop thrashing and let the current carry you.

6. Coach Myself Like I Coach Others

Lindsey helps people master their money, and I help young people navigate the leap from dependence to independence. But me? I forget to coach myself. Not just on skipping an unnecessary splurge (though, guilty), but on the bigger things—aligning my actions with my values, daring to dream bigger, flipping the script.

My advice to me? Do more creating—like finishing that half-drawn sketch or that letter I meant to send—and less consuming, like mindlessly scrolling until I lose track of time.

What would you coach yourself to do more or less of? Drop it in the comments—I’d love to hear!

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Unfinished self-portrait