The LiveNow Journal

Why Most People Don’t Actually Know Their Values (And What It’s Costing Them)

Most people think they know their values. But when was the last time you actually wrote them down — and then looked at your bank account to see if they matched? In this episode, Dakota Chandler walks you through the same values clarification exercise he uses with every coaching client. You'll learn why most people don't have a spending problem — they have an alignment problem — and how five minutes of honest reflection can change the way you spend, decide, and live. Dakota shares his own four values, the quarterly family trips that reflect them, and the everyday spending he cuts without hesitation once his filter was clear. Inspired by Bill Perkins' Die With Zero, this episode will challenge you to stop budgeting and start living by what actually matters. If you've ever felt like your money is going one direction and your life is going another — this episode is for you.

The Happiest You’ll Be on Vacation Is Hour 43

We just got back from the Great Nooga Escape — rock climbing, an underground waterfall, kayaking, and two wide-eyed kids who didn't want to go home. But here's what I kept thinking about the whole trip: there's research showing that vacation happiness peaks at hour 43. After that, the novelty fades, the mind drifts back to Monday, and you're physically present but mentally somewhere else. In this episode, I unpack what that data actually means — and why it has nothing to do with vacation logistics and everything to do with how we're wired for presence, meaning, and joy. We talk about hedonic adaptation, why shorter trips work better than longer ones, and what our family's four-day travel philosophy taught me about the gap between the life we're waiting to live and the one available right now. If you've ever come home from a trip feeling like you needed a vacation from your vacation — this one's for you.

The Beliefs We Didn’t Choose — Ep. 1: What I Was Taught to Fear

Wars. Rumors of wars. The mark of the beast. Sound familiar? When the world gets loud and unstable, old narratives come rushing back — and most of us don’t even notice. In this episode, I unpack how I inherited a fear-based understanding of Revelation, why it’s resurfacing in culture right now, and what a different way of reading it might actually offer.

Why the Fear of Loss Is Stronger Than the Hope of Gain

We often stay stuck not because better options don’t exist, but because letting go feels riskier than moving forward. In this episode, I explore why the fear of loss weighs heavier than the hope of gain, how it quietly shapes our decisions, and what it looks like to choose alignment over certainty. If you’re facing a decision and feeling hesitant, this reflection will help you understand why.

Why Doing Nothing Feels So Uncomfortable (And Why That Matters)

Doing nothing can feel strangely uncomfortable — even when rest is exactly what we need. In this episode, I explore why stillness triggers tension, how action bias shows up in everyday life, and why discomfort isn’t always a sign that something is wrong. If you’ve ever felt restless when slowing down, this reflection will help you understand what’s happening beneath the surface — and how to respond with clarity instead of urgency.