Why Vitality Matters for Everyone

Reclaiming Energy and Living Fully.

Every year, I choose a DRIVEN Word of the Year (WOTY)— a guiding principle, a focus, a lens through which to view the next twelve months. It’s a tradition I’ve held close, a quiet but powerful way to steer my energy and intentions. This WOTY is never chosen lightly; it’s something I sit with, reflect on, and ultimately feel in my core.

This year, though, the process took on a new urgency. Over the past few years, I’ve felt my own energy wane, and I’ve seen this same depletion in those around me. Burnout is seemingly contagious, stress feels inescapable, and loneliness has grown so prevalent that the U.S. Surgeon General has declared it a public health crisis. It became clear that my word needed to address not only my personal journey but also this collective experience.

And so, after much reflection, I arrived at Vitality.

Vitality is indispensable to the existence, continuation, and well-being of individuals as well as a healthy society. It's the energy and zest that powers our daily actions, helps us overcome challenges, and supports our ability to thrive—not just survive.

For me, choosing Vitality as DRIVEN’s WOTY is about reclaiming that essential life force— not only for myself, but as a shared intention for those in my community and beyond.

Through the lens of a favored VALUES Ranking system, I’ve come to appreciate Vitality as a personal "Vision" value—something I want to live fully into, going forward. This ranking system helps my clients and me look at our values in three dimensions:

• Foundational values, which anchor us in who we are.

• Focus values, which guide our priorities and actions in the present.

• Vision values, which represent the ideals we aspire to in the future.

Understanding Vitality as a Vision value has been a powerful realization for me. It’s a reminder that the decisions I make today directly affect the future I create. By starting now and intentionally prioritizing a value I want to grow into, I believe I can cultivate a stronger sense of Vitality in the present. I’m starting with the end in mind. In this way, focusing on tomorrow serves me today, creating a ripple effect that strengthens both the now and the next.

Vitality touches every part of our lives. It’s what fuels our ability to connect meaningfully with others, manage stress, and pursue our goals with energy and focus. Yet, maintaining Vitality requires intention. In a world that often pulls us in multiple directions, it’s easy to neglect our well-being and let our energy tanks deplete.

Over the year ahead, my intention is to explore Vitality not just as a concept, but as a mindset and practice. Together, we’ll delve into what gets in the way of Vitality— like stress, overwhelm, and habits (and people) that drain us—and how we can overcome these barriers. We’ll also look at the five key energy sources that sustain Vitality: physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, and social energy.

But before we dive into strategies, let’s consider one simple yet powerful truth: Vitality, our life force, comes from an appreciation of life. And that appreciation is often found in the most ordinary yet profound moments: A genuine smile from a loved one, the sweet antics of the birds, or the playful adorableness of a puppy dog. These “daily delights”, as I often call them, are moments of profound joy that remind us what it feels like to be fully alive.

Let’s start there. Let’s start by seeking out these moments of delight. Pay attention to when your heart bursts with a sense of wonder or gratitude. Those are the moments when Vitality flows most freely—when life feels full and rich, even in its simplest forms.

This year, I invite you to join me on this journey toward greater Vitality. Together, we’ll explore practices, insights, and strategies to help us thrive in the future, starting right now. Because Vitality isn’t just about living longer; it’s about living fully, one heart-bursting moment at a time.

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