Three. That’s the magic number I’ve landed on. This epiphany came to me one day while I was fishing. All great things seem to show up in a stream. Except for steelhead. They never seem to appear.
When I got back home, I cracked open a brand-new journal and started down a path of 3s to structure my life.
I started with my habits.
My morning: 3 x 3 journaling with intention.
3 things I’m grateful for
3 goals for the day
3 people, things, or ideas I’m praying for (I’m not religious, just love to pray.)
My diet: 3 x 3 rules for how I eat daily.
3 meals (No snacks. Ever.)
3 bites of dessert (Never 4. That’s the rule.)
3 servings of fruit or vegetables
My physical and mental health: 3 x 3 practices for wellness weekly.
3 days of strength training
3 days of cardio
3 minutes of meditation, once a day
My evening: 3 x 3 reflecting and recharging on an evening walk with my wife.
3 gratitudes from the day
3 things we did well
3 goals for the following day
That felt pretty good, and it established some simple but clear habits for the near future. I then pivoted to my life philosophies and listed my top three beliefs on various topics.
My speech: the three filters I use before speaking.
Is it true?
Is it necessary?
Is it kind?
My focus: aligns with what I can control.
What I Do.
What I Say.
What I Think.
My awareness: my top three lessons on mindfulness.
Impermanence is the heartbeat of life.
My perceptions are often wrong.
No mud, no lotus.
My priorities: What matters most to me.
Purpose: my life's work
People: friends, family, and community
Performance: my overall health and well-being
My Do's: three commitments to live by.
Rise early
Work hard
Chase joy
My Don'ts: three things to never do.
Don’t complain
Don’t criticize
Don’t be lazy
My Life: when my ticket's called, I hope I can say:
I followed the golden rule.
I left the world a better place.
I did my best.
Of course, these are aspirations, not absolutes—dreams, not guarantees. But I aim for them, day by day.
And honestly, my favorite number is still 2.