Stephen Meriwether

October 8, 2024

Going All In: A Few Months of Focus

I want to see what's possible if I go all in—not forever, but for a few months. I want to be able to look back and feel confident that there’s very little I could have done differently. I’m not entirely sure what that looks like yet, but today, I can at least picture my future self, three or four months from now, and imagine what will make that person know I gave it my all.

After reflecting, I’ve realized that there are three dimensions of life I care about most: physical, intellectual, and emotional.

My Physical Life

Going all in physically would mean:

  • I’m eating food that gives me energy rather than drains it, and I’m eating just the right amount.
  • I’m drinking enough water every day.
  • I’m moving my body daily, and more often than not, I’m doing some form of strenuous exercise.
  • I’m getting enough sleep to recover and feel energized the next day.

My Intellectual Life

Going all in intellectually would mean:

  • I’m intentionally reading or learning something new every day.
  • Most days, I’m writing down reflections on what I’ve experienced or learned.
  • More often than not, I’m doing what’s right instead of what’s easy.

My Emotional Life

Going all in emotionally would mean:

  • I’m spending as much quality time with my family as I can.
  • I’m learning to forgive more quickly.
  • I’m making time each day to practice gratitude.


I don’t expect perfection. I know I won’t get everything right all the time, but I don’t need to be perfect to look back and know I went all in. The most important thing is that no matter how many times I fall, I keep getting back up.