🎙️ Introducing Episode 138 – “Check the Boxes” with LeVar Jones

In Episode 138 of The Write Mind Podcast, hosts dive deep with Atlanta-based youth development specialist LeVar Jones. The title, “Check the Boxes,” alludes to the rich personal journey LeVar takes listeners through—reflecting on growth, responsibility, and the surprising power of embracing this often misunderstood phrase.

Tuned in, you’re in for more than just a typical “checklist” mentality. Instead, LeVar reframes what it truly means to “check the boxes” in life, family, career, and purpose.

Watch the Full Episode: https://youtu.be/DgXJ3sBqte4

🌱 From Youth Development to Culinary Creativity

LeVar kicks off by sharing how he discovered his passion for youth development. Drawing from his upbringing in the DMV, he recounts being mentored by people who didn’t just talk—they showed up. These early influences sparked his drive to mentor the next generation.

“It’s not just about ticking off tasks—it’s about living each box fully,” he explains poignantly.

This philosophy becomes a throughline as he shares how cooking taught him to balance structure, spontaneity, and soul.

✅ Reframing the Checklist Mindset

Much of the conversation explores the cultural pressure to “check boxes”—graduate, get a job, have family, earn recognition. In this discussion, LeVar articulates how achieving milestones can bring a sense of accomplishment, but also a surprising emptiness when done out of obligation.

He encourages listeners to pause and ask:

Am I pursuing this step because it feels expected—or because it aligns with who I want to be?
Have I clarified "why" each box matters beyond external praise or comparison?

By reframing questions this way, LeVar insists listeners can transform routine goals into meaningful milestones.

🧭 Navigating Life with an Anchor

A central part of “Check the Boxes” is establishing a grounding purpose. LeVar shares stories of working with teens who hit box-checking milestones but felt lost afterward. He underscores that without a compass—something deeper than achievement—it’s easy to feel adrift.

Listeners hear how he guides youth and adults to explore:

What values do you hold when no one’s watching?
How do small daily wins shape your foundation?

His methods are practical: journaling, guided conversations, creative expression—and yes, cooking too. He urges embedding purpose into habits, not postponing it until “after the boxes are done.”

🔄 Embracing Adaptation & Flexibility

Life doesn’t always respect our timelines. LeVar recounts moments when prestigious opportunities fizzled or mentors paused their own journeys. These detours, he suggests, can be powerful recalibrations.

He shares strategies for embracing flexibility:

Reassess confidently: Let go of goals that no longer inspire or serve.
Engage curiosity: Try new fields, hobbies, volunteer work—see what ignites you.
Embrace discomfort: The stretch zone isn’t always cozy, but it's where growth lives.

And he reminds listeners: “Checking boxes isn’t proof of purpose—but it can be part of it… if you stay open to where the path shifts.”

🗣️ Conversation Highlights & Anecdotes

The hosts and LeVar share several memorable exchanges, including:

A moment when a teen participant at one of LeVar’s workshops asked, “But why does finishing feel so empty?” It led to a workshop-wide realization about soul-sucking checklist culture.
A story from LeVar’s pre-chef phase when a burned dinner taught him about resilience—not failure.
A candid moment in the studio: “Sometimes ‘good enough’ is realistic—and liberating,” says LeVar, to nods around the mic.

These anecdotes stitch together laughter, vulnerability, and the insight that sometimes checking a box is also about pausing to reflect—not rushing ahead.

💡 Key Takeaways You Can Apply Today

1. Define your personal checkboxes: List what each goal means to you, not others.
2. Anchor everything in purpose: Ask whether each step aligns with your core values.
3. Practice healthy flexibility: Reassess and pivot when necessary—without guilt.
4. Cultivate gratitude: Celebrate each box for what it taught you, where it pushed you.
5. Blend discipline with creativity: Apply structure—but also make room for surprise.

LeVar’s authenticity and curiosity-light approach encourage listeners to rethink the chase. Yes, check boxes. But check them consciously, and never stop asking, “Why this one? Why now?”

🎧 Why This Episode Resonates

What makes Episode 138 so compelling is the blend of practical wisdom and raw storytelling. LeVar isn’t presenting a polished guru persona—he’s open, reflective, and relatable. Whether you’re a student, parent, mentor, or creative professional, his insights invite a reconsideration of daily rituals, long-term purpose, and self-motivation.

Check the Boxes” isn’t a tutorial—it’s a mindset reset.

✅ Final Reflections: Your Action Plan

Revisit yesterday’s ‘completed’ boxes: What did you learn? Did you honor the moment?
Draft your next three boxes with intent: Add why each matters, and how it ties to your vision.
Share this episode: Talk about it with a friend, mentor, or mentee. Watch how it shapes your weekly conversations.

Come back in six months: Reflect on progress—not just the boxes, but what’s been revealed in between.

✨ Episode 138 – LeVar Jones: Check the Boxes isn’t just a podcast—it’s an invitation to live more deliberately. It’s about reframing routine into ritual, and ambition into alignment. Dive in, listen closely, and then—check your boxes with intention.

Let me know which insight resonated most, or how you’re leaning into your own checkboxes this week.