Have you ever had something grab your attention, but you almost ignored it anyway?
That’s exactly what happened when I first came across an exercise called Life’s Razor in the book, The 5 Types of Wealth by Sahil Bloom. (By the way, if you like thought-provoking reads, this one’s worth checking out.)
At first, I felt a twinge of resistance trying to dissuade me from picking up my pen. But I’ve learned that when I feel resistance, there’s usually something worth exploring on the other side. So instead of brushing it off, I gave it a whirl. And I’m glad I did.
It was like turning on a flashlight in a dark room. I didn’t expect it to impact me as much as it did. And honestly? The timing couldn’t have been better.
Lately, the noise of all the things—emails, to-dos, news, notifications, social media posts—has felt extra loud. But, as it turns out, this exercise wasn’t another thing to add to my plate. It actually helped cut through the noise that has been draining my energy and stalling me out.
And rather than keep you in suspense, I’m going to share it in case you need to cut through some noise.
The “Life’s Razor” Exercise
This is a four-step process. So, grab a notebook (or your Notes app), and get comfortable.
A helpful tip: As I was going through the exercise, I found it helped not to overthink the answers. Instead, just allowing whatever came up to come out in my journal.
Ready?
Step 1: Finish this sentence.
I am the type of person who…
Write down any actions and traits that describe you.
As an example, here’s what I came up with:
I am the type of person who…
People confide in.
Wants to make a positive difference.
Loves to innovate and be creative.
Enjoys deep, thought-provoking conversations.
Loves coaching others to find their own empowered solutions.
Loves to teach and share useful information.
Is obsessed with learning, especially about the brain and mindset, and sharing what I’ve learned.
Cares about others and wants to support them in ways that actually matter.
Now on to the next step.
Step 2: Find the common thread.
Look at your list. What’s the one thing that ties it all together?
Maybe you’re noticing a theme or commonality. That’s what you want to highlight.
For me, the theme was:
To make a positive difference.
Everything else—coaching, learning, teaching, creating—stems from that core theme.
What’s yours?
Step 3: Turn it into your “razor” sentence.
Now, take your theme/commonality from Step 2 and turn it into a short, powerful sentence. This is your Life’s Razor—the filter that helps cut through the noise.
As another example, here’s what mine became: I never miss the chance to make a positive difference.
The moment I wrote that down, the noise in my head got quieter, and I started to feel the energy and excitement return.
Step 4: Test it out.
Before you make your Life’s Razor official, do a quick gut check by asking yourself the following three questions:
Is it within my control?
Does it positively impact other areas of my life?
Does it actually reflect who I am?
If it passes those three, you’ve got your Life’s Razor.
This Sentence Has Changed Everything
I’ve always wanted to be more intentional with my time and energy, but like a lot of people, I get sidetracked. Saying yes to things that drain me, scrolling the news when I’m tired, or getting lost in social media instead of working on my latest project.
Now, I have a built-in filter. Before I commit to something, I ask myself:
Will this make a positive difference?
If the answer is no, I move on to something that will. And let me tell you, it’s been a game-changer in helping me refocus and reset my energy.
Why This Works (The Brain Science Behind It)
Your brain thrives on efficiency. It’s wired to take shortcuts whenever possible, which is why habits and routines shape so much of our daily behavior. Without a clear internal guide, your brain defaults to whatever feels familiar—like saying “yes” to things out of obligation, scrolling mindlessly, or getting caught up in other distractions.
But when you define a simple, value-driven principle, you engage your brain’s reticular activating system (RAS)—the network that filters what gets your attention. Think of it like an internal spotlight, helping you notice opportunities that align with your “razor sentence” while tuning out the noise. You’ll naturally start recognizing opportunities that align with your values and feel less pulled toward distractions that don’t.
The best part? The more you use this filter, the stronger the neural pathways become, making it easier and more automatic over time.
Now What?
So now that you’ve hopefully done the exercise and uncovered your Life’s Razor—the best part is using it.
Let it be your guide as you move through your day. When faced with a decision, big or small, pause and ask yourself: Does this align with what truly matters to me? If the answer is no, give yourself permission to let it go.
The more you use this filter, the easier it gets. You’ll start noticing where your energy is best spent, where distractions creep in, and where you’ve been saying “yes” when you really meant “no.”
Pay attention to what changes—big or small. And as always, if you care to share, I’d love to hear. Until next time, here's to cutting through all the noise that drains our energy.