Merry Christmas! I'm Dr. Howard Dennis, your certified high performance coach.
While everyone is unwrapping presents today, I want to invite you to unwrap something even more valuable — clarity about who you are and who you're becoming .
Today, we're going to complete the first session of what we call The Charge Sessions — the 10 Human Drives Assessment.
So grab your journal, pour yourself some coffee (or hot cocoa), and let's do this good work together. This is the perfect time to reflect on the year behind you and prepare for the year ahead.
I've shared this before, but it feels especially meaningful during this season of reflection: Brendon Burchard wrote his book The Charge after suffering a serious four-wheeler accident. The very charges we're going over today are what helped him pull out of a difficult time .
And quite frankly, they helped me too.
When I was facing financial challenges and watching one of my best friends, Dr. Sean Pryor, go through the dreadful disease called ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), these principles became my lifeline.
Sean passed away in 2011, but before he did, his disease forced him to slow down and realize what truly mattered. He told me that his illness was a blessing because it made him appreciate his family and enjoy the journey — not just the destination.
This Christmas, as you're surrounded by family and loved ones, I want you to remember: we don't have to wait for a life-threatening disease, financial tragedy, or failing relationships to wake us up.
We can step up now and change our lives today.
What better gift could you give yourself — and those you love — than becoming the best version of yourself?
Our goals for this Christmas Day session are simple but powerful:
✔ Identify where you're feeling caged, comfortable, or charged
✔ Introduce you to the complete Human Drives framework
✔ Examine what makes you feel most alive and fulfilled
✔ Master your internal world
This is about being proactive, doing the work, and then getting the results. The work has to come first.
We live in a drive-through satisfaction world where we expect instant results without investment. But that's not how life works — and this season reminds us of that. We need to invest in our internal world first — then we can have the good stuff in life.
In Part 1, we covered the first five drives: Control, Competence, Congruence, Caring, and Connection.
Today, on this Christmas Day, we're completing the assessment with the final five:
Definition:
I try new things often. I'm always trying to improve many areas of my life. I don't fear change. I've made significant progress lately. I know what needs to change in my life and I'm ready to do it.
Rate yourself 1-10.
How have you handled change this year? Have you embraced it or resisted it? As we enter a new year, are you ready for transformation?
Definition:
I push myself at home and at work to be a better person. I often attempt difficult things. I look forward to a challenge. I make bold moves and I bounce back after setbacks and stay persistent.
Rate yourself 1-10.
Have you welcomed challenge in your life this past year? Or have you avoided it? What challenges will you embrace in the new year?
Definition:
I show the world my uniqueness by sharing my real thoughts and opinions. I feel creative in what I do for work and in other activities. My home, office, and projects reflect my own style. I'm living my own authentic life.
Rate yourself 1-10.
Are you expressing yourself authentically? Or are you playing it safe? This Christmas, are you being your true self?
Definition:
I feel my efforts each day are adding to something meaningful. I'm giving good things to the world. I sense my contributions matter. I find my work and life to be important and purposeful.
Rate yourself 1-10.
Do you feel like you're making a difference? Does your life have purpose? Christmas is a season of giving — are you giving your best to the world?
Definition:
I feel present and mindful each day. I'm being conscious of how my thoughts and actions are creating my reality. I sense I'm connected to something beyond myself or feel a high level of awareness.
Rate yourself 1-10.
Are you living mindfully? Or are you just going through the motions? This Christmas, are you truly present with those you love?
Now that you've rated yourself on all 10 drives, it's time to dig deeper.
For example: Did you not face challenge very well? Did you have a lot of blowups when you were challenged? Be honest with yourself.
This is your Christmas gift to yourself — the gift of honest self-reflection .
Now, here's where the real work begins — and what better time than the start of a new year?
I want you to go through all 10 drives — yes, all 10 — and think about one thing you could do to raise each level another notch.
Ask yourself:
Maybe it's a belief that you can handle anything that comes your way. Maybe it's a habit of journaling every morning. Maybe it's an action step to reach out and repair a broken relationship.
Whatever it is, write it down .
Make this your New Year's resolution that actually sticks — because it's rooted in self-awareness and intentional growth.
Once again, this is about working on our inner world.
My friend Sean Pryor learned this the hard way. His disease forced him to slow down and be mindful of the way he was behaving inside himself. He realized that his family was the most important thing and that it's not just about the destination — it's about the process .
This Christmas, as you're surrounded by loved ones, remember what truly matters.
But we don't have to wait for tragedy to strike.
We can step up now and change our lives today.
Don't let these old stories control you as you enter the new year:
Make a step today — on Christmas Day — toward the life you want.
If you need some direction, I want to give you my FREE 5-Step Clarity Blueprint .
This simple, powerful tool will help you get clear about who you're going to be so you can end this year strong and start next year even stronger with real momentum.
Text "CLARITY" to 423-460-9757 and I'll send it over to you right away.
No excuses. You can start getting clear today — even on Christmas.
Because the best gift you can give yourself and those you love is becoming the best version of yourself .
Merry Christmas!
This is Dr. Howard Dennis, your coach today.
Go out there and make a difference in your life. Start today.