What Brings You Back to Center? Reflections on Core Values, Purpose, and Living with Intention
Introduction: Life, Reflection, and the Approach of 40
Maybe it’s because I’m on the verge of turning 40, but I’ve found myself reflecting a lot lately. As a speaker and coach, I often tell my clients: the last thing any of us should settle for is simply going through the motions.
Living with intention takes hard work, persistence, belief, and clarity—especially during seasons of grief, transition, or uncertainty.
So how do we stay centered when life throws us off course?
One practice I return to often is naming and writing down my core values—the deep truths that remind me who I am and what I’m working toward. These values act as anchors when everything else feels like it’s shifting.
Why I Wrote My Core Values Down
I wrote this list during a recent season of feeling ungrounded. It’s not a checklist or a manifesto. It’s a reminder.
When I feel disoriented—emotionally, professionally, or spiritually—this list brings me back to center. It helps me reconnect with what matters most and move forward with clarity and calm.
If you’re navigating your own version of grief, uncertainty, or change, I hope these reflections resonate with you.
1. My Family Is My Dream
A lot—but not all—of my happiness is rooted in helping my family thrive.
For me, this means sacrifices and priorities: showing up for the people I love, even when it costs me time, energy, or financial comfort.
There’s no dream I care about more than building a life where the people closest to me feel safe, supported, and seen.
2. We Are in the Right Place at the Right Time
It’s easy to get distracted by shiny objects or the myth of “greener grass.” But I’ve learned this truth:
Contentment isn’t complacency—it’s clarity.
There’s something good here, even if it’s not immediately visible. The more I practice noticing what’s in front of me, the more peace I find.
We don’t have to chase every opportunity. Sometimes, the growth we need is already right where we are.
3. I Am Not a Problem. I Am Set Up to Be a Solution.
This mantra is from my first book, I’MPOSSIBLE: Life Lessons on Thriving with a Disability.
When I’m tired, overwhelmed, or self-critical, I return to this truth. Living with cerebral palsy can be hard. But I am not my limitations—I am here to offer something only I can give.
Sometimes I literally say it out loud:
“I am not a problem. I am a solution in motion.”
4. We Are Building a Life Where Everyone Can Win
The world often tells us that life is a competition. That there’s not enough success, money, opportunity, or love to go around.
But I don’t buy that anymore.
I believe in cooperation over competition, abundance over scarcity, and community over comparison.
We are all capable of creating environments—at home, at work, in our relationships—where everyone can feel like a winner. Not all the time, but consistently enough to keep going.
5. Needs Are Valid and Worth Honoring
This value took me a long time to learn.
For years, I minimized or ignored my own needs—physical, emotional, even spiritual. But needs don’t go away just because we pretend they’re not there.
Awareness is the first step. Acceptance is the second. Action comes next.
Whether it’s rest, laughter, deep conversation, time outdoors, or a regular date night with my wife—honoring my needs helps me show up fully in every part of my life.
And honoring my needs doesn’t conflict with abundance. It completes it.
Living With Intention in the Face of Grief, Disability, and Change
These values aren’t magic. They don’t erase grief. They don’t make life easy. But they do give me something solid to stand on when the ground beneath me feels shaky.
As I approach this next season of life—personally and professionally—I’m more convinced than ever that:
We don’t have to figure it all out.
We just have to stay connected to what matters.
A Gentle Invitation
If you’re feeling disoriented or stuck, I encourage you to try this:
Write down your values.
Not what sounds impressive—but what actually grounds you. What calms your nervous system. What brings you back to yourself.
Then return to those truths whenever you need them.
I'd Love to Hear From You
What brings you back to center?
Drop a comment below or message me directly. I’d love to hear what’s keeping you grounded in this season—and what you're dreaming toward.
About the Author
Sam Miller is the founder of Dreaming Made Simple, a speaker, coach, and author of The Dreaming Made Simple Starter Guide, I’MPOSSIBLE, and I’MPOSSIBLE JOURNEY. Born with cerebral palsy, Sam’s mission is to help individuals and teams break through limitations and live with purpose, movement, and momentum.
Connect with Sam on LinkedIn, or visit dreamingmadesimple.com to learn more.