Clarity: Design > Default

C.H.E.C.K Ya Self 2/6

HIGHLIGHT

Over the years, I’ve spent countless hours serving young offenders in our local prison in Barbados. I’ve had many powerful moments and collected countless stories, but one experience stands out above the rest.

I was leading a session on decision-making, emphasizing that, more often than not, we know the consequences of our choices. To drive the point home, I asked a young man in his early 20s a few questions:

Me: "Fam, how long you been in here?"
YM: "About 18 months."
Me: "Okay, if I had met you two years ago and asked where you’d be today based on the life you were living then, what would you have said?"
YM: *Without hesitation* "Dead or in prison."
Me: "Exactly, so you knew the conse—"
YM: *Cuts me off* "Don’t get it twisted, Dario. I was comfortable with both of those options."

For a moment, I was stunned. It wasn’t just his awareness of the possible outcomes—it was the fact that he was comfortable with them.

Here was a young man, full of potential, yet conditioned by his circumstances to accept the worst possible future as inevitable. And as I reflected, I realized his story isn’t unique.

Many of us may not be facing physical death or prison, but we are slowly leading our dreams to the slaughter. We remain locked in jobs we hate and cycles that keep us stuck. We tell ourselves, this is just how life is, when in reality, we’ve simply grown comfortable with living by default.

But here’s the truth: while we can’t predict the future, we can design it. We don’t have to accept the hand life has dealt us—we can reshape it. Success and significance aren’t accidents; they are intentional outcomes.

The first step? Clarity.

It’s time to stop living by default and start living by design.

INSIGHT

Life is full of uncertainties, but if there are three things you must get clear on, it’s these: Purpose, Priorities, and Personality. When you gain clarity in these areas, they become the foundation for a life of intention, fulfillment, and impact.

1. Purpose – Why You’re Here

Your purpose isn’t just about what you do—it’s about why you were born, who you’re called to serve, and what problem you were created to solve. Without clarity on purpose, life feels like running in circles with no direction. Purpose fuels progress. It gives meaning to your efforts. And when you align your life with your purpose, success becomes a natural byproduct.

Clarity on purpose leads to success.

2. Priorities – What Matters Most

Your priorities define what truly matters to you. They shape your decisions, determine where you invest your time and energy, and ultimately define the quality of your life. Without clear priorities, it’s easy to chase things that look good but don’t actually feel good in the long run. The key is aligning your daily actions with what you value most so that your life isn’t just successful, but also significant.

Clarity on priorities leads to significance.

3. Personality – Knowing Yourself

Understanding yourself—your strengths, weaknesses, tendencies, and triggers—is the foundation of strategy. When you truly know yourself, you can play to your strengths, manage your weaknesses, and avoid self-sabotage. The better you understand yourself, the better you can position yourself for success.

Clarity on personality leads to strategy.

At the end of the day, clarity is the difference between drifting through life and designing it. When you are clear on your Purpose, Priorities, and Personality, you stop leaving life to chance and start shaping it with intention.

IGNITE

Clarity isn’t something you stumble upon—it’s something you cultivate. If you’re serious about living by design and not by default, here’s a 3-step process to help you gain clarity on your Purpose, Priorities, and Personality.

Step 1: Reflect – Look Up and In

Before you can move forward with intention, you need to take a step back and reflect.

Ask yourself:

• Purpose: What excites me? What problems do I feel drawn to solve? Who do I naturally feel connected to?

• Priorities: What truly matters most to me? What values do I want my life to reflect?

• Personality: What are my strengths? What drains me? What patterns do I see in my decision-making?

Action: Write down your answers—no filters, no expectations, just raw honesty.

Step 2: Refine – Get Clear & Specific

Reflection brings awareness, but refinement brings clarity. The goal here is to filter through the noise and define clear, actionable statements for each area.

Do this:

• Purpose: Create a one-sentence personal mission statement. Example: “I exist to provoke current and emerging leaders toward success and significance.”

• Priorities: Identify your top three values. Example: Faith, Family, Fitness.

• Personality: Take assessments (StrengthsFinder, DISC analysis, etc.) or ask close friends what they see as your strengths and blind spots.

Action: Write down your purpose statement, top priorities, and personality insights somewhere visible—this is your blueprint.

Step 3: Realign – Take Intentional Action

Now that you have clarity, it’s time to realign your life with it. This means making adjustments—big or small—that move you toward your designed life.

Apply your clarity:

• Purpose: Does your current work or daily actions align with your mission? If not, what needs to change?

• Priorities: Are you spending time and energy on what you say matters most? If not, what shifts can you make?

• Personality: Are you playing to your strengths and managing your weaknesses? What habits or boundaries can you put in place?

Action: Choose one practical step for each area and commit to it this week. Maybe it’s setting a boundary, shifting your schedule, or saying yes to an opportunity that aligns with your purpose.

Clarity is power. The more intentional you are about your Purpose, Priorities, and Personality, the more control you have over the direction of your life.

Start today—because a success and significance won’t happen by accident.