A picture of the author, Annamarie Fernyak, hiking.

“If you don’t know where you want to go, any road will get you there.”

This quote from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland deeply resonates with me. Life, like a flowing river, often sweeps us along with its currents. For some, embracing this ebb and flow without a predetermined course can be a fulfilling way to live. But what happens when you’re met with a fork in the river? Which way do you steer the boat?

I’ve discovered that with a clear vision and strategic actions, I can navigate these forks with purpose. Knowing where I want to go doesn’t limit life’s spontaneity; it enhances it, allowing me to embrace serendipity while remaining aligned with my values and life’s purpose.

The R-Factor Question, pioneered by Dan Sullivan, is a powerful tool for charting that course. It asks: If you were celebrating the dawn of 2026, reflecting on 2025, what would need to have happened for you to feel fulfilled, aligned with your values, and living your best life?

At Mind Body Align, this question has become a cornerstone of how we approach personal and organizational growth. It helps us navigate the currents of life with intention, ensuring that each decision reflects our mission and values.

Envisioning joy and fulfillment

When reflecting on the past year, consider what brought you the most joy and fulfillment. What activities, relationships, and achievements lit you up? At Mind Body Align, fulfillment is often found in connection — whether it’s through facilitating a mindful classroom, creating a transformative curriculum, or moments of mindfulness.

For me, the R Factor Question is not just an exercise — it’s a mindfulness practice. In one strategic planning session, I envisioned our goals as seeds in a garden, each one representing an initiative.

In my mind’s eye, I planted those seeds in the side garden of The Butterfly House and labeled each group of seeds with the program or project. With intention and care, those seeds are continuing to grow into thriving programs that align with our mission to foster mindfulness and balance in communities.

Values: The compass for life’s decisions

Values are the principles that guide our decisions, especially when we’re faced with life’s forks in the road. As I write in The Right Side of Happiness, values are not societal expectations or ethical imperatives — they are deeply personal truths shaped by our experiences and stories.

Values help answer pivotal questions like: What is most important to me? and how do I want to show up in the world? For example, someone who values family might find that decisions prioritizing family feel aligned, while compromises on that value create physical or emotional discomfort.

At Mind Body Align, values such as personal responsibility, growth, community, and gratitude have been pivotal in shaping both organizational strategies and personal aspirations. These values serve as our compass, helping us steer our boat in the direction that feels most authentic and fulfilling.

Aligning your vision with mindfulness

Mindfulness enhances this journey by helping us navigate life with clarity and awareness. It’s not about controlling every aspect of the future but about becoming fully present so that our choices align with our values.

Mindfulness quiets the noise of external expectations and fears, allowing us to focus on what truly matters. This clarity is essential. It transforms decision-making from a reactive process to one of thoughtful intention.

To craft a future that resonates with your deepest desires, combine the R-Factor Question with mindfulness. Together, they create a framework for living intentionally while allowing space for life’s natural flow.

Mindful Visualization: Values Alignment Practice

  1. Find Your Center: Possibly place a journal and pen nearby and note your insights in your journal. Sit in a quiet, comfortable place. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths, noticing yourself sitting in the present moment.
  2. Engage Your Senses: Notice the sensations around you — the feeling of the chair, the sounds in the room, the rhythm of your breath.
  3. Reflect on Your Values: Ask yourself: What values guide my life? What principles do I want to honor in my decisions? When have I felt most aligned with my values?
  4. Envision Your Future: Picture yourself one year, three years, or five years from now. Imagine a typical day in this ideal future: What brings you joy and fulfillment? Who is part of your life? How are your values reflected in your choices?
  5. Overcome Challenges: Acknowledge the obstacles you’ve faced and the strengths you’ve developed to overcome them. Let this reflection empower your vision.
  6. Express Gratitude: Conclude with gratitude for the clarity and insights gained during the exercise.

Balancing action and serendipity: Navigating the road ahead

Creating a vision for your future doesn’t mean rigidly controlling every detail. Instead, it’s about balancing intention with openness, allowing space for the unexpected while staying true to your destination.

As Lewis Carroll’s famous quote reminds us, “If you don’t know where you want to go, any road will get you there.”

A clear vision not only gives you direction but also lets you relax into the journey, knowing that even with twists and turns, you’ll ultimately arrive where you’re meant to be.

Life, much like the road or river metaphor, is full of surprises. Some are challenges that demand resilience and adaptability, while others are opportunities that encourage growth and expansion.

I’ve learned that navigating this journey requires mindfulness and values-driven decision making. When uncertainty arises, my first step is to return my focus to the present moment and ask, What action best aligns with my values?

This simple yet powerful practice shifts the focus from reacting to circumstances to choosing with intention. It transforms uncertainty into a catalyst for growth. It helps me embrace change rather than resist it.

Your journey to an intentional future

The R-Factor Question isn’t just about setting goals — it’s an invitation to live with purpose.

By leaning on your values, embracing mindfulness, and setting a clear vision, you can steer your boat in the direction that feels most authentic to you.

Take a moment to ask yourself: If I were celebrating the dawn of 2026, reflecting on 2025, what would need to have happened for me to feel fulfilled, aligned with my values, and living my best life?

Allow this question to guide your journey. With intention and mindfulness, you can create a future that honors your values and brings you joy.

As you move with the current of life, remember: clarity doesn’t diminish spontaneity — it empowers it. With your compass set and your boat aligned with the flow, you’re ready to navigate the river of life with purpose and grace.