Three Anchors for a Life That Actually Works

I was recently spiraling on whether it’s weird to say “welcome back” at the start of every single stinking podcast episode. (Spoiler: I decided it’s not.) But that tiny overthought detail sent me down a bigger rabbit hole, emphasizing how much the little things we do and say shape the way we live.

And when I zoomed out a bit, I rediscovered the three anchors that keep showing up in every conversation I have about building a life that feels not just productive, but genuinely sustainable: connection, consistency, and capacity.

Let’s break them down.

Connection: Who You Let Into Your Orbit

We’ve all heard that you’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with. Cute phrase, sure, but also wildly true! The people you let into your orbit don’t just influence your mood; they shape your ambition, your self-perception, and your momentum.

Think of it this way: if you wouldn’t climb into a pen of cranky mama cows (because, you know, survival instincts), why would you hang around people who drain you or diminish you? Energy is contagious, and so is apathy.

Research confirms it. We’re more likely to hit our goals when we’re surrounded by others who are on a similar path. Support, accountability, and encouragement matter more than sheer willpower. So, it’s worth asking: who’s in your atmosphere right now? Are they expanding you ... or shrinking you?

Consistency: The Un-Flashy Superpower

For a long time, I was the queen of winging it. Last-minute brilliance, all-nighters, deliverables still met. But the truth is consistency outperforms power moves every time.

Daily habits (even the smallest ones!) compound in ways sporadic bursts of effort simply never will. Studies show that maintaining steady routines boosts overall happiness and life satisfaction. And people who regularly check in on their goals are 42% more likely to achieve them. Forty-two!

Consistency isn’t glamorous, but it is transformative. It’s what turns ambition into progress and ideas into outcomes. So if you’re wondering where to start, don’t chase another big push. Just nurture a devotion to showing up.

Capacity: Your Personal Infrastructure

Here’s another one that we think we know, but we don't actively believe: it’s not that you don’t have time, it’s that you don’t have capacity. Time is a constant. Capacity is the variable. And it’s on you to protect and expand that capacity.

Capacity is your core personal infrastructure. It’s the sleep you prioritize, the food you choose, the people you surround yourself with, the boundaries you enforce. It’s managing your energy with as much care as you manage your calendar.

When you run on fumes, everything feels harder than it is. When you build capacity, you show up sharper, steadier, and less reactive. It’s not selfish. It’s the only way you’ll have anything left to give.

The Long Game

Thriving isn’t about hacking your way to success or having a perfect plan. It’s about anchoring yourself in these three areas (connection, consistency, capacity!), and recalibrating as life shifts around you.

Because life will shift. It always does. The question is: will you have the people, the practices, and the reserves to meet it well?

That’s the long game.