The Question That Changes Everything
One of the most important questions we can ask ourselves is this:
“If I knew I had limited time left here on earth, would I change anything?
Am I living the life I believe God is calling me to live?”
Most of us don’t slow down long enough to wrestle with that question. If we do, it’s often after tragedy strikes or when we hear of someone whose life was cut short. For a moment, we reflect. We reconsider our priorities. And then, almost instinctively, we return to routine.
But the truth is this:
Living well — and leading well — requires intention.
The legacy we leave is not built in one defining moment. It is shaped slowly through faithful, everyday decisions made over time.
If you want to build a lasting legacy, you must learn how to live with intention now.
Thriving requires intentional choices.
What Does It Mean to Live with Intention?
Living with intention means aligning your daily decisions with what matters most.
It means asking:
- Am I living aligned with my values?
- Am I prioritizing what will matter long-term?
- Am I building a life I won’t regret later?
Intentional living looks different in every season. For some, it might mean:
- Creating a budget for the first time to steward resources wisely
- Scheduling a counseling or coaching appointment to process unresolved hurt
- Adjusting your calendar to prevent burnout
- Saying “no” to good opportunities so you can say “yes” to the right ones
- Opening up to a trusted friend instead of carrying burdens alone
Thriving doesn’t happen accidentally.
It grows from intentional choices.Our Turning Point: Asking What It Takes to Thrive
In 2009, my husband and I found ourselves burned out — discouraged, overwhelmed, and exhausted.
We had just navigated several major life changes at once: a new position, a new city, and a new baby. Everything felt heavy. We weren’t failing — but we weren’t thriving either.
One evening, we sat in our living room and asked a simple but powerful question:
“What would it take for us to thrive in this season?”
That question changed everything.
It shifted us from surviving to evaluating. From reacting to leading. From drifting to living with intention.
It eventually became the foundation for our coaching and the heartbeat behind Rooted for Legacy.
The Core Areas of a Thriving Life
When we began evaluating our lives honestly, we realized that thriving required looking at the whole picture — not just one area.
If you want to live on purpose and build a meaningful legacy, consider reflecting on these core areas:
1. Spiritual Life
Is my relationship with God being prioritized, or squeezed in when convenient?
2. Family & Relationships
Am I present and intentional with the people entrusted to me?
3. Finances
Am I stewarding resources with wisdom and peace?
4. Rest & Joy
Do I make space for joy, refreshment, and celebration?
5. Physical & Mental Health
Am I caring for my body and mind in sustainable ways?
Living intentionally requires awareness.
Awareness leads to alignment.
Alignment shapes legacy.
Take time to write down what thriving would look like in each area of your life. You don’t need to change everything at once — but clarity changes direction.
The Core Areas of a Thriving Life
When we began evaluating our lives honestly, we realized that thriving required looking at the whole picture — not just one area.
If you want to live on purpose and build a meaningful legacy, consider reflecting on these core areas:
1. Spiritual Life
Is my relationship with God being prioritized, or squeezed in when convenient?
2. Family & Relationships
Am I present and intentional with the people entrusted to me?
3. Finances
Am I stewarding resources with wisdom and peace?
4. Rest & Joy
Do I make space for joy, refreshment, and celebration?
5. Physical & Mental Health
Am I caring for my body and mind in sustainable ways?
Living intentionally requires awareness.
Awareness leads to alignment.
Alignment shapes legacy.
Take time to write down what thriving would look like in each area of your life. You don’t need to change everything at once — but clarity changes direction.
Don’t Wait to Build the Life You Were Created For
Whatever it looks like for you to live well in this season, don’t wait until you’re looking back with regret. No one lives perfectly — but each of us has the opportunity to choose faithfulness, wisdom, and intention today.
Legacy isn’t built all at once.
It’s shaped slowly, through everyday decisions that align our faith, our families, and our calling.
You were created for more than survival.
You were created to live rooted — and to leave a legacy that reflects what truly matters.
