Author Archives: Christi Hegstad

Conducting A Mid-Year Life Inventory

Christi Hegstad June 18th, 2025

Somehow we have already reached the middle of the year. How is yours going so far?

I like to reserve an afternoon around this time of year to conduct a little review + planning session with myself. Essentially, I use this time to acknowledge, reflect on, and celebrate what the first half of the year has looked like, then to recalibrate, course-correct, or sometimes even cast an entirely new vision for the second half. A mid-year personal inventory, so to speak.

If you’d like to do the same but aren’t sure what to ask yourself, I’ve got a set of questions to help! You’ll find them in my latest Reading And Purpose article, which you can subscribe to and read here. Enjoy!

Reading Wrap-Up: May 2025

Christi Hegstad June 4th, 2025

Each month, I share a few thoughts on all the books – both fiction and nonfiction – that I read throughout the month, and my May wrap-up is now up! You can read it, as well as previous monthly wrap-ups, via the Reading And Purpose newsletter. Subscribe and enjoy!

The Nonfiction Backlist Summer Reading Guide!

Christi Hegstad May 28th, 2025

I have so much fun sharing all the books I read each month via my Reading And Purpose newsletter, but I have also been looking for a way to shine a light on some older favorites as well. Enter the Reading And Purpose Nonfiction Backlist Summer Reading Guide!

(Whew, say that 10 times fast!)

This guide offers over 30 nonfiction books, personally recommended by me and divided into several unique categories for your convenience. I’ve also included a few thoughts on each book to help you determine which ones sound up your alley.

You can subscribe to Reading And Purpose and enjoy the reading guide here!

Who Are You And Why Are You Here?

Christi Hegstad May 21st, 2025

You’ll find the word ‘purpose’ in the name of my weekly newsletter, in the name of my business, and probably within the text of most of the 1,100+ blogs I’ve written over the years. Yet you might still be asking, what does it actually mean?

I don’t blame you. Look up ‘purpose’ in multiple sources and you’ll find multiple definitions. Ask ten different people what purpose means to them, and you’ll likely hear ten different responses. You yourself may come up with a different definition depending on the day.

I often start with an analogy that helps put purpose into perspective. You can learn this and more in my latest Reading And Purpose article, which you can subscribe to and read here!

The Three Layers of Your Values

Christi Hegstad May 14th, 2025

If I asked you to name your 3-5 core values, how would you respond?

I often relate values to a lighthouse:

Regardless of dense fog, crashing waves, raging storms, or any other external factors, a lighthouse stays steady and true, serving as a guidepost at all times. Similarly, our values are always there to connect with, lean on, and serve as a guide, whatever is going on around us as well. 

We all *have* values; when we are clear on them, we can more intentionally make decisions and take actions in favor of them. This helps support our sense of fulfillment, purpose, and overall alignment.

I recently shared an article in my Reading And Purpose newsletter highlighting the three different ‘layers’ of core values, as well as how you can activate them in meaningful ways. This article also links to an earlier one offering specific ways to begin uncovering your own core values.

Both articles are available to the public, so feel free to subscribe to Reading And Purpose and read them here!

When To Persevere, When To Quit

Christi Hegstad May 7th, 2025

A couple of years ago, I was scanning my ‘Books That Changed My Life’ shelf (we all have one of those, right?) and noticed something interesting:

Two books right next to each other (because I organize them in alphabetical order by the author’s last name); both with a black, white, and red color scheme; both made my top ten nonfiction list the years I read them (five years apart); both with one-word, four-letter titles that also rhymed

When I tell you how my nerd-heart started beating faster!

And obviously, since they were both on my shelf of honor, both already held a special place in my mind, work, and life.

But interestingly, they also seemed diametrically opposed to one another: One was called Grit, all about the power of perseverance, and the other was called Quit, all about the power of walking away.

As a coach, writer, and lifelong student of human behavior, my wheels were turning. I immediately wrote a brief blog about my discovery and a few points I found interesting. And here we are, two years later, and I am returning to the phenomenon that I haven’t really stopped thinking about since.

My latest Reading And Purpose article shares thoughts on both books, as well as five points I find useful when deciding when to quit and when to persevere with my goals. The article is available to the public – you can subscribe and read it here!

When You’re ‘Supposed To’ Feel Motivated – But Don’t

Christi Hegstad April 30th, 2025

The birds are singing, the trees are budding, the daintiest flowers are blooming through the softening post-winter soil. Spring is in the air here in the midwest U.S., the time when seemingly everyone experiences renewed energy and fresh motivation. Which can feel super exciting for those who do … and particularly de-motivating for those who don’t.

If you find yourself in the latter camp – or even if you’re just needing a few ideas to uplift and refresh a bit – today’s article is for you. I’m sharing one of my favorite tools when it comes to personal growth, along with several practical, purposeful ideas stemming directly from it. Feel free to put this tool to use to help your next season be personally fulfilling, professionally rewarding, or whatever you most seek in this chapter of your life.

You can find the tool, step-by-step ideas, and examples in my Reading And Purpose newsletter. Subscribe today and enjoy the article!

“How Do You Read So Much?”

Christi Hegstad April 16th, 2025

I am an avid goal-setter, but I don’t actually set a number goal for my reading. I did that once many years ago, and I became so focused on the number that I started losing sight of the purpose, the immersion, and the overall joy of simply settling in with a book, regardless of how long it took to finish or what number my tally would reach when I finished it.

Since that time, I’ve decided to be happy with whatever number of books I complete in a year. And since that time, I’ve consistently read about 100 books each year, and I am frequently asked how I read so much.

My latest Reading And Purpose article shares five practical habits that support my reading. If you’d like to enhance your reading life and are looking for fresh ideas, these may help! You can subscribe to Reading And Purpose and read the article here.

Reading Wrap-Up: March 2025

Christi Hegstad April 1st, 2025

In addition to the arrival of spring here in the midwest U.S., March has brought some fantastic reading, an incredible author visit, and a healthy blend of nonfiction and fiction on my reading stack. I’ve recently posted a few thoughts about each of the nine books I read this month, which covers quite a variety of genres and topics – hopefully a little something for everyone within this wrap-up!

Spring – along with life, work, and the world in general – has also brought an abundance of topics that I can’t wait to chat about with you in upcoming articles. We’ll be looking at how to practice active critical thinking, what ‘the good life’ means (which will also include a robust book flight), taking positive action in the world of literacy/books, and a variety of other reading- and purpose-related topics.

If you’re looking for strategies and supportive books to help you work with meaning, live with purpose, and achieve bold and difference-making goals, make sure you’re subscribed to Reading And Purpose! You can do so – as well as review my March reading wrap-up – here.

Fresh Starts: 5 Practical, Purposeful Paths

Christi Hegstad March 26th, 2025

I can’t quite explain it, but something magical happens when I clear out a cupboard, declutter my desk drawers, or even delete podcast episodes that have been sitting in my queue for months. When I am about to embark on a new project or begin a new goal, I will often start by clearing my space a bit, and the process almost always clears my mind a bit, too.

I sometimes even look for things to declutter if I’m feeling at all out of sorts, knowing that a newfound clarity and refreshed energy – or at least a bit of mental calming – will likely appear.

Does anyone else experience this? Or is this one of those odd Christi quirks?

As signs of spring begin to appear here in the midwest U.S. (with the occasional blizzard still popping up, of course!), many of my coaching clients are craving that fresh start energy, and I am right there with them. If you feel similarly, this article can help you take advantage of this fresh start desire in five practical, purposeful ways. I also share some interesting research on when it’s advised to not make a fresh start.

You can find the article and subscribe to Reading And Purpose here!

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