If you had three months off, what would you do?

My friend asked me this recently: “If you had three months off, what would you do?”

He said he’d like to renew his energy, build some good habits, and use some time to get clear about his future, but wasn’t sure the best way to do it.

I’ve got a solution, and it doesn’t even take three months. It takes one day.

I’d take a walk. But not just any walk. I’d go to the closest mountain I could find. Why the mountains?

Something about being “above the world” and out of the fray is cleansing for the soul. (Just be careful — I recently heard that 1 out of every 10 hikes into the mountains of Colorado you are being tracked by a mountain lion).

I’d go alone with a sleeping pad, a reflection journal, a tent, some water, and a can of chili (aka the extent of my cooking ability).

But I wouldn’t just retreat. I’d go with purpose. In fact, I’d go with these six questions:

1. When am I most happy?
2. What is my value add to the world?
3. What can I offer humanity?
4. What needs to change?
5. When am I most connected to my life’s purpose?
6. How can I serve others tomorrow?

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I may also go with the Wheel of Life and explore the flat areas of my tire:

I’d probably rank my life on the 1-10 scale for each area, find the flattest ones, and then ask myself:

1. Why is that area flat?
2. What has been the impact?
3. What immediate action would bring it back to where it should be?

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Again, you don’t need three months. You need a day. Even a half day. Reflection is good for the soul and provides an opportunity for your inner voice to speak up.