Taking Life One Year at a Time: Redefining Success, Purpose, and Transition with Misty Moreno
Dec 11, 2025
What if you stopped trying to plan the next 10 years of your life… and just focused on the next one?
In this powerful episode of Leading With Heart, I sit down with Misty Moreno, 20-year Air Force veteran, marketing manager at Vets2PM, instructor, podcaster, and author, to talk about identity, transition, and what it really means to “get your shit together” in a world that constantly pushes us to do more.
Misty doesn’t just share theory, she shares lived experience. From a rash retirement decision to a deeply intentional life built one year at a time, her story is both grounding and insanely inspiring.
When Your Worth Is Tied to Your Rank
Misty opens up about a season where her entire sense of worth was wrapped up in performance reports, rank, and recognition. One evaluation nearly sent her into a spiral.
Sound familiar?
So many of us—especially in the military and high-achieving environments—equate productivity and promotion with personal value. Misty talks about how counseling, honest reflection, and some hard truths helped her untangle who she is from what she does.
Her turning point? Realizing that: Your career is a part of your life, not your entire identity.
One-Year Living: A Different Way to Define Success
Instead of five- and ten-year plans, Misty lives by a one-year-at-a-time philosophy. Each year, she defines what success looks and feels like for that season—then builds her decisions around that.
Her focus right now?
- Time freedom
- Creative work
- Being present as a wife and mom
She uses a giant wall calendar to “audit her life,” checking in daily: Did today align with my definition of success?
It’s simple. It’s honest. And it’s incredibly practical.
Getting Your Sh*t Together (For Real This Time)
Misty is also the author of Get Your Shit Together: 30 Days of Journal Prompts, a straightforward tool to help you define what you actually want your life to look like—beyond what the military, your boss, or social media say you should want.
Her message is clear: You don’t need to have a perfect five-year plan. You do need to know:
- What success means to you
- What kind of lifestyle you truly want
- What you’re actually willing to do (and not do) to get there
Purpose That Follows You, With or Without the Uniform
One of the most powerful themes in this conversation is purpose.
When we join the military, purpose is issued to us.
When we leave, it’s not handed back in a neat little box.
Misty challenges us to define a purpose that’s portable—something we can live out:
- In uniform and in civilian clothes
- At work and at home
- On the field, in the office, or at the grocery store
Because one day, the career ends. The rank goes away. The uniform comes off.
Who you are, and how you lead your life, remains.
If you’re in the military, transitioning, or simply questioning what success really means to you, this episode is a must-listen. It’s your invitation to slow down, zoom in, and build a life that actually fits.
If you want to chat more about this topic, I would love to continue this conversation with you, over on Instagram, or in my Facebook community!
RESOURCES:
Connect with Misty:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mistylmoreno/
SHOW NOTES: https://www.christinamattisonyoga.com/blog/episode86
Thanks for listening! Connect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen), or on Instagram @themilitaryyogi
More about Christina Mattison and the Leading with Heart Podcast
Hey there! I'm Christina Mattison, an Air Force Officer, yoga teacher, dedicated wife, and proud mother of two. But most importantly, I'm here as a wellness and leadership coach for women in the military. I want you to know something: It doesn't have to be this way.
I've walked in your combat boots, and I understand the chaos that often accompanies military life. But I'm here to share a powerful truth with you: You have the innate ability to transform your own life. I've personally experienced this transformation, and I've witnessed it in the lives of countless clients I've had the privilege to guide.
Deep within you, lies the strength to design a life filled with joy, peace, and profound fulfillment. You don't have to conform to the mold of an overachieving robot to achieve success in the military. You can be authentically you and thrive.
Welcome to the Leading With Heart podcast — your ultimate resource for discovering how to infuse joy, peace, and true success into every facet of military life. Through research-based tools, expert interviews, and invaluable insights, these episodes will revolutionize your life.
Get ready to unlock your potential, uncover resilience, and discover the path to a life that aligns with your values and dreams. Join me as we navigate the challenges of military life together, finding balance, purpose, and well-being along the way.
Are you ready to embrace a life filled with joy, peace, and true success? Then it's time to tune in to the Leading With Heart podcast and embark on this transformative journey.
