Why Taking the Existential Vitality Index™ Isn’t as Scary as You Think

Written by Steve Sandoval, Ph.D.

Founder, The Flourishing Retiree

Let’s be honest—most of us don’t love being evaluated. It reminds us of report cards, performance reviews, or awkward doctor visits. So, when I invite someone to complete the Existential Vitality Index™ (EVI) it’s understandable why some hesitate. A few common thoughts come up:

• “What if the results say I’m not flourishing?”

• “What if someone else sees this and judges me?”

• “What if I don’t like what I learn about myself?”

Valid concerns. But also… great signs. Those very questions point to a desire to live intentionally—which is precisely the point of the EVI. Let me explain what the EVI is, what it’s not, and why this process might just be one of the most important gifts you can give yourself in retirement.

What Is the Existential Vitality Index™?

The EVI is a 74-question self-assessment I’ve developed uniquely for retired and soon-to-be-retired individuals take a close, compassionate look at how they’re doing across four key areas:

• Active Health (your energy, movement, nutrition, and strength)

• Relational Health (your family ties, friendships, and sense of belonging)

• Spiritual Health (your purpose, growth, contribution, and beliefs)

• Restful Health (your ability to rest, relax, emotionally reset, and experience leisure)

Each of these domains contains subdomains, and each question on the EVI measures both your mindsets (what you believe) and your habits (what you actually do); they’re also aligned with the flourishing research. You answer using a 7-point scale—so there’s no “pass/fail.” It’s more of a personal GPS: Where are you strong? Where are you stuck? Where might you want to re-route?

Beyond the Numbers: Your Story Matters Too

While the EVI is a powerful starting point, no assessment is perfect by capturing the full depth of a person’s experience. That’s why I also conduct a brief, meaningful interview with each client—to hear your story, explore what’s beneath the numbers, and co-create a more complete picture of what flourishing looks like for you. Together, we use both tools to build a plan that’s not only personalized, but deeply authentic.

“But What If I Don’t Like My Results?”

Then you’re just like everyone else. No one has a perfect circle when we map your EVI results onto a radar chart. You’ll see some spikes (your strengths) and a few dips (growth areas). That’s normal. That’s human. And more importantly, that’s useful. Taking the EVI is not about labeling you or diagnosing anything, it’s about surfacing what matters and helping you put words to what you might already feel. Many clients say things like:

• “I didn’t realize how much I was ignoring my need for rest.”

• “I thought I was doing okay socially, but I’ve let a few friendships slip that I’d like to re-gain.”

• “Turns out my need to constantly achieve something resonates from my old work life.”

“Is This Confidential?”

Absolutely. Your responses go straight to me only, and they’re used solely for your personalized growth. I don’t share them, sell them, or use them in any way without your permission. And because the EVI isn’t a standardized test or psychological diagnosis, there’s no external record or score that gets filed away.

This is a safe space—judgment-free, pressure-free, and led with curiosity, not critique. The beauty here? Once you name it, YOU can change it. I’m only there to help facilitate this change.

The Real Work Begins After the EVI and Interview

Once you complete the 10-minute survey and brief interview, we’ll schedule a brief one-on-one conversation to unpack the results. Again, this isn’t a therapy session; it’s simply a guided reflection on what you’d like to do next based on a short list of next steps (because no one has the bandwidth for a laundry list of things to do).

We’ll explore:

• What surprised you

• What patterns you notice

• Where you’re already flourishing

• Where you might want to invest a little more energy

Together, we create a Flourishing Plan—tailored to you, your lifestyle, your values. Not someone else’s template. Not what society thinks a retiree “should” do. Your version of vitality is what matters most. 3 Afterall, this is the existential cherry on top: you get to choose what actions you take. That’s the heart of existentialism—personal freedom, personal responsibility. I don’t tell you what to fix. I just help you see and plan for what’s possible.

Bottom Line: This is About You, for You

The EVI isn’t some tool to make you feel small. It’s a flashlight, not a microscope. It helps illuminate the path ahead from a non-financial lens. And if there are cobwebs in one corner of your life? Great. Join the club. It just means there’s room to tidy up, not time to worry or panic. The question isn’t “Will this be hard?”

The real question is: “Am I ready to stop winging it and start flourishing—on purpose?” If the answer is even a tentative yes, then let’s begin. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be curious. Reach out to pique your curiosity or just to learn more at www.theflourishingretiree.net.