Mind Your “End”
“Until you have a clear idea of what you want to be and do, you’ll always be at the mercy of circumstances—and other people’s agendas.”– Stephen R. Covey
In healthcare, we’re trained to think outcomes. From treatment goals to care plans, we constantly ask: “What’s the end game?” But when it comes to our own lives, we rarely apply that same principle. Covey’s second habit—Begin with the End in Mind—challenges us to step back from the commotion and consider where we’re going and why. It’s about living intentionally, not just efficiently. Because if we don’t define success for ourselves, the world will define it for us—and that definition may not bring fulfillment.
A decade ago I “discovered” my medical school admissions personal statement while cleaning out some files. While the themes were predictable, idealistic, and perhaps a bit naïve— “Love of science,” “To serve,” To help,” and “To heal,” — reading them years later, I was struck by how far my emphasis had drifted from those intentions. Somewhere along the way, in the midst of the challenges of daily medical practice, leadership demands, and “life stuff,” I’d lost my focus on the why behind the what, and my work and even life had become more a flurry of transactional activity rather than one of meaningful interconnection. That essay from my younger self became a quiet invitation to revisit what I truly wanted my life in medicine – and beyond, to look like.
Beginning “With the End in Mind” is rooted in the idea that all things are created twice—first mentally – as an idea, then physically. It encourages us to spend time defining what we would consider our “life’s purpose”, to clearly visualize how we want that purpose to manifest in our lives, and then ultimately to align our daily actions with that vision. The literature on values-based leadership has shown that individuals who craft personalized mission statements and regularly revisit their “why” experience greater job satisfaction, maintain a stronger sense of purpose, and are more resilient—even under pressure. In a profession where burnout is high and meaning can sometimes get buried under tasks, this clarity is vital.
The content of that essay helped revitalize a monthly ritual for me, which I now call my “new moon intentions.” At the start of each new moon, I take time to reflect on the direction of the many facets of my life and my alignment with that direction by asking myself: Are the decisions I’m making grounded in my purpose and moving me closer to the vision I have for my life?” Doing so has, for example, allowed me to reframe my stated desire to “serve and help” from a sense of “obligation and duty” to more of an opportunity, privilege, and choice. Understanding and grounding myself in this deeper “why” has allowed me to show up differently – for my patients, colleagues, and myself. The work hasn’t changed, but the person doing it sure has.
So this week, take a moment to zoom out and ask yourself: What does a successful, meaningful life look like for me? What kind of colleague, clinician, and human do you want to be remembered as? Write it down. Reflect on it. Share it with your PeerRx buddy. And let it guide even the smallest choices. Then make a plan to revisit it regularly (the PRx90 Process can help) and revise as needed. Remember, when we begin with the end in mind, we don’t just get things done—we move toward becoming more of who we are called to be, doing the things we are perhaps uniquely positioned to do. Certainly that’s an “End” worth “Minding.”