What Gives You Direction in Life?

Daily writing prompt
What gives you direction in life?
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Finding direction in life isn’t always easy—you can walk through life aimlessly and without a compass, unsure of what’s ahead. Over time, I’ve found some key sources that help me stay on course, even when life gets confusing or uncertain.

1. People I Admire

I’m constantly inspired by the accomplishments of people I look up to. For example, Barbara Corcoran’s story—I love reading about how people like her approach life and overcome challenges and become successful. I try to apply those lessons to my own life. Learning from successful people reminds me that direction doesn’t always come from knowing the answers, but from making bold decisions and adapting as you go.

2. Friends and Family Who Get Me

I’m lucky to have friends and family members who share similar values and experiences. When I feel lost or unsure, I can turn to them for life advice. Especially those who are a few steps ahead and they’ve tackled the same dilemmas I’m facing now. Their stories and support provide me with greater clarity and confidence. There’s something comforting about knowing you’re not alone in figuring things out.

3. Goal Setting

I’m a planner by nature, so goal setting is a huge part of what gives me direction. I set goals at different increments—yearly, monthly, weekly—and I check in with them daily. These goals help me check that my actions align with my bigger goals. They don’t just keep me productive—they give me purpose. Even when I don’t hit every goal perfectly, the process keeps me focused and intentional about how I’m spending my time.

4. Self-Reflection and Personal Values

Lastly, regular self-reflection helps me stay in touch with why I do what I do. When I take time to pause and ask myself what matters most—what kind of person I want to be, what kind of life I want to live—it gives me clarity. My personal values act like a compass. Even when the path isn’t clear, those core beliefs point me in the right direction.

At the end of the day, direction comes from both outside inspiration and inner clarity. It’s a mix of learning from others, planning ahead, and self reflection.

What Emojis Do You Use to Express Yourself?

Daily writing prompt
What are your favorite emojis?
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So much of our communication happens online now—texting, emailing, messaging through apps. It’s convenient and quick and you can look back on the conversation if you can’t remember the details (like where and when you’re supposed to meet). But one of the biggest challenges with written messaging is tone. 

You can’t always tell if someone is joking, being serious, or just confused. That’s where emojis come in handy for clarification. I love using the 🙂 happy face to share good news, 😢 sad face for not-so-great news, and 😂 the laugh emoji when something is very humorous.

Especially in group chats where you don’t always know everyone well, emojis can clarify your tone of voice. Not everyone uses “LOL” or “hahaha” to show laughter and clarify that you’re in a good mood. In other cultures, people might write “jajaja,” “wwww,” or “hehehe” instead. Emojis are a universal way to show laughter or emotion without needing to explain ourselves as much.

Even at work, emojis are making their way into our messages and emails. They help show intention, so there’s less room for misinterpretation. A 🙂 with a message adds a friendly tone. 🤔 shows you’re thinking or unsure. 😕 for disappointment or bad news. It makes digital messages feel more human.

I like to try new emojis, but it depends on the tech. On some devices, scrolling through all the options takes longer. You can also call up an emoji just by typing the word. For example, type “cat”—and the 🐱 emoji pops up. Super convenient!

Sometimes I wonder if it’s possible to speak in full emoji sentences. It could be faster to type, though that could get confusing fast. Something like: 😅📅⏰➡️☕💻👀🤯 could mean “Woke up today when the alarm went off, so I got coffee, went to work and saw my messages, and felt overwhelmed.” Or it could mean “So embarrassing I forgot to remind myself to go get more coffee. Got an email. Read the news. So shocked I’m awake now.”

Some people are more advanced—they’re using memes and GIFs, not just emojis to express themselves. I have enough of a challenge just picking emojis that aren’t just faces. I’ll stick to emojis. They’re simple, fun, and expressive enough. 😊

How to Beat Procrastination and Finally Get Things Done

We tend to think of procrastination as a bad habit — and it is — but it’s also a way to cope. When we feel overwhelmed, unsure, or just mentally drained, avoiding a task can feel like the only option. The problem? That relief is temporary, and the stress always circles back.

If you’re tired of riding that cycle, here are four practical ways to break it when you’re not feeling 100% motivated.

1. Lower the Barrier to Starting

Most of us don’t procrastinate because we’re lazy — we procrastinate because starting feels like a mountain. So instead of saying “I need to finish this,” reframe it to “I’m just going to work on this for ten minutes.” Ten minutes is a small commitment compared to finishing a whole task. Starting is often the hardest part, but it’s easier to keep going once you’re in motion.

2. Make the Task Clearer

Vague goals result in vague actions. If your task is “Work on project,” it’s harder to measure how much you’re getting done. Break the task into specific actions: “Write intro paragraph” or “Choose paint color for bedroom wall.” This removes decision fatigue and gives you a clear starting point.

3. Change Your Environment

You can’t expect deep focus in a space that’s set up for distraction. If your phone’s constantly buzzing with notifications or you’re working where you relax, your brain won’t switch gears easily. Create a work-friendly zone, even if it’s just clearing off a part of your table or playing mood music to shut out unwelcome noise.

4. Find Rewards That Reinforce

It’s tempting to binge YouTube after a productive hour, but make sure your rewards don’t undo your progress. (Work for one hour, and watch fun videos for one hour.) Think small and restorative — a short walk, a coffee, a chat with a friend. Your brain should associate completing a task with feeling good, not being distracted.

Key Takeaway

Procrastination isn’t about fixing yourself — it’s about adjusting your systems. With a few intentional changes, you can build momentum from small accomplishments instead of waiting for the best moment to get an entire project done.

A Story: How Do You Unwind? 

Daily writing prompt
How do you unwind after a demanding day?
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After a long day, each family member returns home to relax. Everyone has their own routine after work or school, and the most important thing is finding some sort of release from the day’s stress. But even though unwinding after the day brings the family together, they also need time alone.

Father

The key turns in the lock, and Dad steps inside, glad to be home after a long day at work. The smell of dinner pulls him to the kitchen, and he asks how his wife and kids are doing. He eats quickly while adding to the family conversation about weekend plans and asking about school and what’s happening that weekend.

After dinner, he drops onto the couch, happy to catch up on recent news in the newspaper and TV news channels. The kids pile into the room much later, and they watch a family drama together. He wonders where his wife is – she wouldn’t want to talk with him anyway – she doesn’t like to hear about his work stress. If he’s not too tired, he plays games with the kids before bedtime.

Mother

Mother watches while her husband and children eat dinner and talk about events at school and in their city. Then she puts away the leftovers and washes the dishes while she thinks about all the other household tasks that she needs to complete the next day. She checks if the children are doing their homework. Her husband is relaxing in front of the TV and not speaking to her. They usually don’t talk because she wants to remind him of all the millions of tasks that they need to do.

Then she packs the children’s lunches for the next day. This weekend, she will be working part time so she makes a checklist of what she needs to prepare – what outfit to wear, what lunch to bring, what the kids need to do while she’s at work. When her day is done, she looks forward to doing a little reading before bedtime.

Children

The school day was long so the children can’t wait to leave the classroom and go home. They first go to the kitchen to grab snacks and watch after-school cartoons. Their mom is busy preparing dinner. TV time is one of the best times of the day.

If they are lucky, Mom cooks something they like for dinner and mealtime will be quick. Otherwise, dinner will be slow if they don’t like the food. After dinner, it’s the unpleasant task of completing homework. Sometimes homework is fun, and sometimes it isn’t. Then they chat with their friends or find their Dad and watch more TV. 

All too soon, it’s time for bedtime and lights out. When their parents think they have gone to sleep, one kid turns on a flashlight and starts to read a book under the sheets.

What If You Could See Your Future In 10 Years?

Daily writing prompt
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
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Imagine being able to see exactly where you’ll be in ten years. You see vivid snapshots of your future life: your career, your relationships, your finances, even the food you’re going to be eating. That ability seems like one of the best things that could happen to you. You’ll know what’s coming and you can prepare for it.

This foresight could be incredible. 

If you’re destined for success in your career, you can reverse-engineer every step. You’ll know which skills to learn, which certifications to complete, and which companies to apply to. You’ll even know who to connect with—and who to stay away from. No wasting time climbing the wrong corporate ladder or chasing dead-end ideas. Your financial literacy would be your strong suit–you’ll know what to invest in, how long to invest in something, and when to take advantage of the best prices for homes, appliances, or vacation deals.

Your personal life could be a dream too. If you know how your relationships end, you can skip heartbreaks and toxic friendships. You’d avoid the wrong life partner and stay away from messy family drama. No messy breakups, no horrible family memories. You’d choose your friendships more carefully, hold onto the ones who matter, and spend your time where it truly counts.

But as pretty as that future may seem, there is also a major downside: you’d also miss out on something essential—the life lessons.  

Maybe the heartbreak you skip would’ve made you better at communication in relationships. Maybe the job you don’t apply for would’ve given you a painful but valuable career lesson. Trial and error isn’t always pleasant, but the good and bad memories are equally necessary for growth. Avoiding pain is safe, but without the ugly lessons, we won’t appreciate the beautiful moments as much.

So where do I see myself in ten years? I wish I could see the future so I would know what to expect. What technology should I buy? Should I go on that trip next year? Will I have published my book?

It would be great to have all the answers today so I can better prepare for that future. Learn faster, love smarter, and coast through a succession of happy moments. But the journey there, through the path of the unknown, could be just as worthwhile an adventure!