Alignment Values

5/14/25 - I’m writing this one early—before the calls start, before the day really takes off—headphones in, spiritual healing music playing. Honestly, this is the kind of music I hope people hear in their heads when they read my writing. Especially some of my recent Facebook posts.

Yesterday morning, Kallie and I were walking the dogs. I felt drained—two full days of calls will do that, especially when you’re showing up with real energy for each one. Kallie saw it on my face and asked what was up.

“I’ve gotta be on the phone again all day today.”

She hit me with a classic reframe:
“You get to be on the phone all day with incredible people.”

I was slightly annoyed… she sounded just like me. And she was right. I shifted my perspective, and the whole day changed.

Today, I get to talk with a copywriting lead, a few potential new Emerge members, two of my closest friends about how to improve the community, and join our town hall call for the community. That’s the life I once dreamed of living. And I don’t take it for granted.

But here’s the thing that’s been sitting heavy on my heart lately, my alignment values.

Your Alignment Values Are Everything

I've been having deep conversations lately—especially a great back-and-forth on Marco Polo (the grown up version of Snap Chat) with my friend Nick Simpson—about alignment values. What are they? Why do they matter?

Some of you might think this sounds too soft or hippie-dippy. And to that I’d say:
It might just be time to reflect a little deeper on where that reaction is coming from.

So here’s my definition, plain and simple:

Alignment values are what make you feel alive.
They’re the things you crave more of.
The things that energize you, ground you, and bring you peace.
The things your dream life is made of.
And when life gets chaotic, they’re the compass that keeps you from drifting into someone else’s version of success.

How I Found Mine

Back in 2023, during some coaching with Aaron Velky, he asked me,
“Who are you? What do you stand for?”

I had no idea. And I quickly realized that was a huge problem.

I wasn’t sure who I was (do any of us really? A deeper convo for another time) or what I wanted—which is exactly why I felt so lost.

So instead of asking “what do I stand for?” I reframed the question to something more useful:
When do I feel alive?

I journaled under a sunny fall sky in Ohio—one of those rare perfect days. I wrote out 20 moments that made me feel joy, presence, energy. Then I asked why each one made me feel that way.

After digging beneath the surface, I found themes—patterns that showed me what really mattered.

Now I call them my alignment values:
Love. Abundance. Simplicity. Creativity. Fun.

Let me break those down real quick:

• Love – for myself and others. Loving actions. Loving energy. No more self-judgment or internal conflict. No more posting on social media to cause division. Just showing up with care and presence.

• Abundance – trusting there’s more than enough. Giving freely. Believing deeply in what’s possible and seeing beauty everywhere.

• Simplicity – I’m a simple guy. I want quiet mornings, slow days, a big property with a big garden, and my family close by. Everything else is a bonus.

• Creativity – this one took a while. I spent years denying it while trying to force myself into a mold that didn’t fit. But I’m a writer. A visionary. I think best when I’m doodling or moving or writing something that matters. And yes…my desk is a sea of scribbled notes and clutter.

• Fun – sidewalk chalk, hikes, music in the car. Fun isn’t childish—it’s sacred. It slows time down. It reconnects us to presence and joy.

The Conversation That Changed My Mind

Nick recently made a point that challenged me. He said that sometimes, we have to be flexible with our values in certain seasons of life if we’re serious about achieving that dream live we have laid out on our vision boards.

At first, I pushed back. Hard.

“Then what’s the point of having values at all?” I thought.

But after some reflection, I realized what he meant.

Some people are in survival mode—doing whatever they can to make ends meet. They may not get to live their alignment values right now. But that also doesn’t mean they have to abandoned them while they’re in build mode.

That landed for me.

Because I’ve been presented with some powerful opportunities lately. Opportunities that don’t perfectly reflect the life I want right now—but are completely aligned with the life I want in the future. So even though I’ll be working more than I’d like to in this season, I’m saying yes. Because I know this stretch of effort is what will allow me to live in near-perfect alignment soon. Sometimes the path to freedom starts with a few steps outside your ideal day.

And because I know my values, I can say yes with clarity. These opportunities allow me to lead with love, express my creativity, live in abundance, and enjoy the ride. They may bring a little chaos—but they also shorten the timeline to the simple life I’m building.

This Is Just a Season

For the next 12 months, I’m entering a season of stretch. Of growth. Of hustle. But I’m doing it on purpose. I didn’t say grind—because when you’re working on things you love, with people who light you up, it’s not a grind. It’s alignment in motion. And I know that if I stay true in this season, it’s going to lead to something even more beautiful on the other side.

This season honors my values. And because of that, I can navigate it with clarity, calm, and peace.

After this season, I’ll pause. Reflect. Decide what stays and what goes. I’ll choose the path that aligns most deeply.

But none of this would be possible if I didn’t take the time to define what alignment even means to me.

So I’ll ask you:

Do you know your alignment values?
Are you living them—or drifting further from them?

Because life will always get busy. It will always bring challenges. But if you know what matters most, you’ll always find your way back.

Let’s keep walking in that direction.

As always, thanks for reading,
—Kyle

Spiritual Healing Music: No specific song this week, but this is the kind of music that’s been in my headphones during my morning routine and writing time lately. It helps keep my mind calm and clear—so I can show up fully present for the most important work of the day.