S1:E19 Designing the Life You Want
With the end of the year and the holidays approaching, we are all faced with the question of how we want to finish. Do we want to spend the final months of the year pressing into our goals and finishing strong, or do we want to switch into holiday mode and work to create memories?
My guest, Bekah Tinter, walks us through how we marry the two options together to finish the year in harmony. Bekah is a dear friend of mine who has helped balance me over the last 10 years. She and her husband are coaches, entrepreneurs, and parents to four kids!
🔑 Key Takeaways:
When you consider how you want to end the year, you have to think about how you want to feel on January 2nd or 3rd and work backward from there.
Accept that plans will not go perfectly and plan quarterly check-ins to recalibrate.
Ask yourself what you need to quit. There are seasons of our lives when we need to lean in and seasons when we need to lean out. You won't know when to do either if you don't check in with yourself.
Change is inevitable, but growth is optional. Live life with your hand open so God can work in and through you.
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Megan Valentine:
I am so glad that all of you listeners are back because today is going to be an amazing episode. And let me tell you, I know some of us mamas are multitaskers and we are out and about doing all the things with an airbud in our ear. This just might be one of those episodes you want to listen to with a pen and paper in hand — or just re-listen when you can grab one.We’re going to give you not just inspirational information but actually practical and helpful tips! Can I get an amen from people who are like, just give me the tools?
I’m so excited to have my dear friend and someone I really respect here with me in the virtual studio: Ms. Bekah Tinter. Bekah, I'm so glad you're here!Bekah Tinter:
Thanks, Meg! It's so great to be here with you. I'm really excited about this topic and I love your podcast audience.Megan Valentine:
I love it! It's going to be perfect. I’ve probably known you almost a decade now, and we've gotten a lot closer over the last eight years. We've done life together, we do business together, and we've even hung out as couples — because we both have strong men who still have middle school boy humor!You all know my goal is to bring on guests who are not just showing up on social media but who are legit in life, marriage, faith, and business. I've lived up close to Bekah — she’s the real deal.
Bekah and her husband are coaches, entrepreneurs, business owners, and parents of four kids. They also have an amazing adoption story.
Bekah has multiple superpowers — but one of them is helping bring structure to my loving chaos! And today, we want to help you move forward too.Avoiding the Holiday "Throw-In-The-Towel" Syndrome
Megan Valentine:
Be honest — how do you feel when it gets to November?Bekah Tinter:
I've experienced both sides. It’s easy to feel the downhill slope toward the holidays. But over time, I learned to go "upstream" in my thinking.
When November hits, it’s not time to throw everything out. It's time to engage differently. You can be excited for family and still pursue your goals!We are called to steward our time, talents, and relationships. Structure isn’t about being rigid — it's about being intentional.
Harmony Over Balance
Megan Valentine:
I love that word you used — intentionality. And that idea of harmony instead of balance — can you explain more?Bekah Tinter:
Sure! Balance implies everything gets equal time. That's unrealistic. Instead, I seek harmony and counterbalance.Sometimes work needs more attention. Sometimes family needs more. It's fluid. When you aim for harmony instead of perfection, you release a lot of pressure.
The Power of an Energy Audit
Megan Valentine:
Tell us about this "energy audit" you mentioned earlier. I know listeners will want to steal that idea!Bekah Tinter:
It's simple but powerful. You list out your biggest time commitments and your key relationships.
Then you evaluate: Are they giving you energy or draining it? Are they helping you become who you want to be?You also use the Rule of Twos for people:
Two-minute people (quick hello)
Two-hour people (dinner friends)
Two-day people (weekend-level relationships)
Not everyone deserves the same access to you forever. Life evolves — and that's okay.
Vision First, Then Goals
Megan Valentine:
Okay, so we’re getting intentional. How important is it to start with vision before you make your plans?Bekah Tinter:
It's everything. If you don't know where you're going, how can you decide how to spend your time?Kevin (my husband) and I sit down every year and ask:
Who do we want to become?
What do we want to create?
Then we check in quarterly. We don't wait until November to course-correct. We course-correct in February, May, August.
Stewardship, Not Striving
Megan Valentine:
One thing I love about you is your stewardship mindset. It’s not about hustle at all costs.Bekah Tinter:
Right. We’re called to steward what God has given us.
It’s not about perfection — it’s about multiplying the talents He’s entrusted to us.
Sometimes we need hustle. Sometimes we need stillness.
It’s about discernment — not defaulting to comfort or quitting out of frustration.Ending the Year Strong
Megan Valentine:
As we wrap up, give us some quick, practical steps. How can we finish strong this year?Bekah Tinter:
Reflect on 2024: Wins, lessons, course-corrections.
Identify what you still want to complete — and what you can release.
Focus on the most important 1–2 goals in each life category.
Put them on your calendar. What gets scheduled gets done.
Stay connected to your vision for who you are becoming!
Invitation to Thrive in 2025
Megan Valentine:
Tell everyone about the upcoming event and your resources!Bekah Tinter:
Yes! We're hosting Thrive in 25: A Lifestyle Design Workshop in Gilbert, Arizona on Saturday, December 7th.You'll get:
A 3-hour live coaching experience
A complete workbook
A copy of Kevin’s book, The 7 Disciplines of Uncommon Freedom
An optional VIP Q&A session
You can follow me on Instagram and Facebook at @BekahTinter. We’ll link everything in the show notes!
Final Encouragement
Bekah Tinter:
Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.
Steward what you've been given. Multiply it. Stay flexible. Leave your hands open for the Lord to work.
It's so much sweeter living surrendered!Closing Prayer
Bekah Tinter:
God, thank you for every woman listening. Remind her today that she is uniquely loved.
Help her steward her time, talents, and relationships well.
Give her courage to say yes and wisdom to say no.
We trust you to guide us as we finish this year and start the next one. In Jesus’ name, Amen.