Bonus Self-Reflection Questions to Personalize Your Path to Fulfillment.
Reflection questions extracted from my recent conversation with Neil Twa.
Inspired by the powerful insights from Neil Twa’s episode on the Fulfillment Project podcast, this self-reflection guide is designed to help you internalize and apply the lessons to your own life. Neil’s journey, from leaving a secure job at IBM to navigating bankruptcy, personal challenges, and building a successful e-commerce business, offers a roadmap for creating a life of purpose, freedom, and impact. Use these six questions to reflect on your own goals, mindset, and actions, and take steps toward a more integrated and fulfilling life.
Take some time to sit with these questions, journal your thoughts, or discuss them with a trusted friend or mentor. Let Neil’s story of resilience, faith, and intentionality inspire you to design a life aligned with your deepest values.
1. What Are Your Personal Pillars?
Neil shared his five F’s—faith, family, friends, finances, and freedom (plus a bonus: fitness)—as the guiding principles of his life. These pillars help him prioritize decisions and evaluate his progress.
Reflect: What are the core pillars or values that define your life? If you don’t have them clearly defined, what 4–6 principles would you choose to guide your decisions and actions?
Apply: Write down your pillars and create a simple system to check in with yourself weekly or monthly. How are you living into these values? Where do you need to adjust?
2. Where Are You Holding Back Out of Fear?
Neil emphasized the importance of “burning the boats” and moving forward without looking back, even in the face of uncertainty. He shared how fear of failure or looking foolish can keep us tethered to safety, preventing growth.
Reflect: What’s one area in your life—career, relationships, personal goals—where fear is holding you back? Are you clinging to a “safe” option (like a job or habit) that’s limiting your potential?
Apply: Identify one small step you can take this week to move forward despite the fear. For example, have a conversation, research an opportunity, or commit to a decision without a backup plan.