What Christmas Eve Can Teach Us About Clarity, Direction, and Reorientation
By Dr. David Phelps
Christmas Eve has a peculiar power.
Not just in the lights or the traditions—but in the way it seems to slow time down, if we let it. The world hushes. The usual noise softens. And in that space, a kind of clarity becomes possible.
It’s in this quiet that one story comes back to mind—the story of the Magi. You know it. We all do.
They followed a star.
It’s become such a familiar detail that we rarely pause to consider the deeper meaning. But this year, it’s worth stopping to take a closer look.
Because here's the thing: the star wasn’t hidden.
It wasn’t some exclusive signal that only the wise men could see. Everyone could see it. The same night sky hung over every village, every home, every weary traveler.
But only a few paid attention.
Only a few lifted their eyes, noticed its brilliance, and realized—it meant something.
Only a few chose to leave the comfort of their routines, the security of their schedules, and embark on a journey into the unknown.
That’s not so different from today.
We’re Not Lazy. We’re Lost in Motion.
Most people aren’t failing for lack of effort. Quite the opposite.
They’re exhausted. Not because they aren’t working hard—but because they’re moving fast without a clear sense of where they’re going.
They’ve built good lives. Successful practices. Strong careers. But under the surface, something feels misaligned. Something feels… off.
The problem isn’t intelligence. It’s not ambition. It’s orientation.
Somewhere along the way, they lost their North Star.
And when you don’t know what you’re orienting toward—when you don’t know what’s “enough” or what “success” really means for you—it’s easy to grind through life without ever lifting your eyes.
The Real Work Starts With Reorientation
At our Blueprint Weekends inside Freedom Founders, we talk a lot about investing, about exits, about financial independence.
But the real work?
It’s this.
Helping people lift their heads. Helping them ask the questions they haven’t asked in a long time—maybe ever.
Questions like:
- What am I actually building toward?
- Where is this momentum taking me?
- What does “enough” look like—for me, for my family, in this season of life?
- Have I been following someone else’s star without realizing it?
You see, clarity doesn’t always come before action. But alignment always comes before acceleration.
Because if you’re racing toward the wrong destination—more speed won’t help. It just gets you lost faster.
The Courage to Stop
In a world addicted to progress and productivity, stopping can feel like weakness.
But often, the most courageous thing you can do is pause.
Not quit. Not retreat. Just… stop.
Look up.
Reorient.
Ask yourself: What star am I following right now? And is it actually taking me where I want to go?
Because if it’s not—it’s never too late to course-correct.
One of the most powerful truths I’ve learned from working with high-achieving doctors and dentists is this: transformation doesn’t usually come in dramatic events.
It comes in moments of pause. In quiet reflections. In a single, clarifying question that reframes everything.
[I wrote more about this in this article for the Profitable Dentist: Transcending Financial Constraints. The Life-Changing Event Of “Having Enough]
The Star Isn’t Always Obvious
Sometimes we assume that if we were “on the right path,” it would feel more obvious. More exciting. More certain.
But the Magi didn’t know every step of the journey. They didn’t have a five-year plan. They just knew the star meant something. They followed it, step by step.
The star may not point to an exact address. It may not give you a quarterly forecast or a predictable ROI.
But it can give you something even more valuable: direction.
And direction is what gives your motion meaning.
This Season, Give Yourself the Gift of Perspective
So here’s what I’ll leave you with on this Christmas Eve:
Before the new year rushes in—before the to-do lists, the strategies, the plans—take a moment.
Just one.
Look up.
Think bigger than your next goal. Think deeper than your current frustrations. Ask yourself the questions that really matter:
- Is the life I’m building aligned with what I truly value?
- Do I know what I want the next season to look like?
- Am I moving with intention—or just momentum?
You may be closer than you think to a major breakthrough. But you won’t see it with your head down.
Lift your eyes. Find your star. Follow it.
Final Thought: The Journey Is the Point
The story of the Magi wasn’t just about the destination. It was about the willingness to follow something higher, even without all the answers.
[Related Article: What Every Dentist Learns Too Late About Time, Money, and Freedom]
You don’t need to have it all figured out to move forward. You just need to know what you’re orienting toward.
Because that star—the one that still shines in your life—might be the beginning of a new chapter. One marked not by busyness, but by clarity. Not just by success, but by meaning.
Wishing you and your loved ones a peaceful, reflective, and joyful Christmas.
—Dr. David Phelps
