Draw up a list of values, including spirituality, financial growth, relationships, control, adventure, and so on. Circle any that are important to you, or add others to the list. Now narrow that list down to your three core values, and ask yourself, "Is there a gap between what I say that I value and how I behave?"
Bridging that gap is essential to achieving "enoughness," because living with that gap means that you're living in conflict with yourself. In a well-designed life, behavior reflects values -- and values drive action. So what should you do if your behavior is out of sync with your values? Write down specific actions that reflect your core values. Then do one of those actions this week, and do other actions on the list in the weeks that follow.
"When I act in contradiction to what I truly believe is right, I'm going to be at war with myself," Baker says. "The trick is rediscovering those core values."
This exercise represents a formidable challenge because it requires you to declare a time-out and pause long enough to ask yourself some very probing and uncomfortable questions. Baker calls them "fateful questions," and they go something like this: What have I done to improve myself this year? How do I feel about the work I did today? Do I feel valued at work and at home? What do I want my legacy to be?
The last question is guaranteed to inspire a sense of purpose and discipline. What do you want to be honored for? Where do you hope to make meaningful contributions during your life? What personal accomplishment will inspire the most praise and pride from others? Think about the "defining moments" of your life -- the critical choices that lead you down one path or another. Consider what you've done and what you want to achieve.
This sort of introspection -- increasingly rare in a go-go world of incessant connectivity -- is essential at Canyon Ranch. "Questions contain implicit directions," he says. "And to take control of your life, you must be able to seek and follow your own directions."
Think of change not as a major overhaul but rather as a gradual redesign. "It's all about continual improvement through small, incremental, seemingly insignificant steps," Baker says. "Let's say that you're working 80 hours a week. How about cutting back by 5 hours a week? Now let's figure out how to spend those 5 hours on your health or on your relationships."
On index cards, list three agenda items that you will pursue in the next few weeks -- nothing too ambitious, just small, doable changes, first steps that can lead to bigger steps. Then celebrate each small achievement along the way to maintain your dedication to change.
Anni Layne Rodgers (arodgers@fastcompany.com) is the Fast Company senior Web editor. Additional reporting and writing provided by Chuck Salter. Learn more about Canyon Ranch on the Web.
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