By Dave Smith, The Ultimate Retirement Coach, Founder of LEAP Retirement
We all know the feeling. Whether you’re five years from retirement or fifty, there are days, weeks, or even months when you wake up feeling a bit… unmoored. You’re working hard, but you’re not sure why. You’re chasing goals that suddenly feel hollow. You’re off course.
It happens when our daily actions drift away from our core values. It’s not necessarily about a lack of financial freedom (though that helps!), but a lack of clarity about your personal direction.
The good news? The feeling of being “off course” is actually your internal compass screaming for a correction. It’s an opportunity to re-engage with your own life and build that No Regrets Retirement—or a No Regrets Life—right now.
At LEAP Retirement, we’ve developed a self-guided process designed to help you build your personal navigation system. Here are the three steps you can take today to get back on track, no matter where you are in your journey.
When you feel lost, the first thing you need is a map and a compass. This step is about defining your purpose and core identity.
In our methodology, this aligns with Module 2: Build Your Compass. Getting back on track starts with deep self-reflection:
Who are you, independent of your title? What do you truly value (e.g., family, health, creativity, service, adventure)?
Why do you do what you do? Is your daily routine fueling those values, or draining them?
The Joy Blueprint: What activities consistently bring you genuine satisfaction? If you can’t answer this, start noticing and testing new areas of interest.
The Action: Don’t just list values; identify the one or two that feel most neglected right now. This is your True North.
Feeling “off course” rarely stems from just one area. Life is holistic. You might be financially secure but feel isolated, or perfectly healthy but professionally bored.
We use Module 3: The Eight Attributes as a framework to ensure your plan touches all areas of a fulfilling life. Think of these as the spokes on your life wheel—if one is broken, the ride is rough.
Take a quick audit of the following areas and ask: “Is this area aligned with the person I want to be?”
Financial: Are your habits consistent with your long-term goals?
Health & Fitness: Are you actively taking care of your physical and mental energy?
Family & Relationships: Are you nurturing your most authentic connections?
Intellectual: Are you continuing to learn, grow, and maintain your curiosity?
Spiritual/Purpose: Do you have a sense of meaning or contribution beyond yourself?
Social: Are you finding your “tribe” and engaging in community?
Leisure & Play: Are you scheduling genuine fun and decompression?
Vocation/Contribution: Does your work (paid or volunteer) offer a sense of accomplishment?
The Action: Identify the top two attributes where your actions are most misaligned with your aspirations.
Now we turn reflection into actionable steps (Module 4: No Regrets).
The goal is to stop simply tolerating the misalignment and make small, powerful changes. This is where we stop wishing and start confirming priorities into “Musts” and “Wants.”
Unpack the Obstacle: What is the single biggest obstacle preventing you from fixing the misalignment in your top priority area (e.g., lack of time, fear of change, discomfort)?
Repack with New Attitude & Action: Create a single, small action that you can commit to for the next seven days to combat that obstacle.
Small wins build momentum. A single action today—aligned with your values—is the fastest way to feel back on track.
Use this simple, three-step worksheet to get immediate clarity and action.
| SECTION 1: FIND YOUR COMPASS | SECTION 2: CHECK THE ATTRIBUTES | SECTION 3: UNPACK & REPACK (ACTION) |
| My Top Core Value (Right Now): | My Top 2 Misaligned Attributes: | My Biggest Obstacle is: |
| Example: Authentic Connection | 1. (e.g., Health & Fitness) | Example: “Lack of time in the evenings.” |
| [Fill in Here] | [Fill in Here] | [Fill in Here] |
| Proof of Alignment: What is one activity that fulfills this value? | 2. (e.g., Intellectual) | My Repack Action (7-Day Commitment): |
| Example: Calling a close friend every Sunday. | [Fill in Here] | Example: I will read one chapter of a non-fiction book every day at lunch. |
| [Fill in Here] | [Fill in Here] |
If you’re ready to stop drifting and start steering toward your No Regrets Retirement, dive deeper into our 4-Module planning process at www.leapretirement.com. Let’s get you aligned and back on course.