The practice of Living Intentionally means paying attention to being who you are and also who you want to be in this world. To ‘be here now’ – to intentionally pay attention to the present moment – is the prerequisite to feeling alive and feeling connected. Contemplating who you want to be, and how that differs from how you show up right now, allows you to gather self-awareness and improve your opinion of yourself.
When was the last time you actively contemplated who you want to be?
The normal distraction of the mind
A lot of the time, we are run by the thinking mind. We don’t actually think – we are being thought. Our attention is absorbed by the constant and repetitive “thought chatter” that concerns itself with routine tasks, daily worries, and social standing.
I’m sure you’ve heard this before – our thoughts are 90% repetitive, meaning what you are thinking about today you have gone over yesterday and will think about tomorrow again. My favorite example of this is the mental ‘list’ of things that need to be done. Have you had that experience of mentally keeping checklists in your mind, ticking off the tasks as you go along, and reiterating the things still open?
Maintaining these highly charged and absorbing thinking states takes a lot of energy.
You’ll only notice how much energy it takes once you’ve managed to get your mind to relax a bit. Your whole body will take a deep sigh.
The root cause of STRESS …
When you believe your thoughts to be accurate and important you spend a lot of time feeling stressed, powerless, and tired. That’s not marking you as a useless person – that’s just how the human mind functions right now – mostly.
Or you can choose to be intentional.
Living intentionally means moving away from being governed by our thinking at all times. It entails paying attention to the things that are really important to us, the values we want to live and advocate for.
Intentional Living is the practice of being mindful and purposeful in every aspect of your life. It involves aligning your actions with your core values and setting clear intentions for what you want to accomplish or experience. By living intentionally, you take control of your life and make choices that bring you closer to your goals and aspirations. It can involve simplifying your life, practicing gratitude, setting goals, prioritizing self-care, and being present in the moment.
Choosing intentional living can lead to a more fulfilling and purpose-driven life.
Intentional Living is a practice.
Intentional Living is the practice of paying attention, of being her now. It is the practice of paying attention to yourself and the world around you.
You inhabit an inner world and an outer world.
What you believe in your inner world reflects in your outer world.
Therefore, intentional living requires listening to the self. Who are you believing yourself to be?
Attention to detail creates beauty and harmony.
This orange path is created very intentionally – it fashions just such a light, such a curve; it is using these specific materials, colors, tools, and symbols. Everything has its place, its own special meaning. Such attention to detail creates beauty and harmony.
It is the same in your life and at your work.
Paying attention to detail and slowing down to bring intent into each moment can harmonize your world beyond what you could imagine.
Being intentional is easier with more self-knowledge.
Self-knowledge comes from observing your thoughts, emotions, and motivations for action.
The process of The Work takes you through the steps necessary for self-knowledge in a simple and powerful package – observe, inquire, learn, and transform. It’s brilliant, and everyone can use it. All it takes is some dedication to getting to know who you are.
The Work trains your ability to be here now. It helps you practice living intentionally. You get to see the mental distractions for what they are. As a result, they drop.
No letting go required.
The more you use your intent, the more productive and focused your day will be.
Start with small steps to see it work.
- Start your day by writing a list. This creates focus.
- Head the first writing task with your desired outcome. Is the outcome just ‘done’, or done well? Done with joy?
- Then start to work.
Is this ridiculously obvious, you ask? Well, it certainly is! But hey, don’t underestimate the power of practice and actually doing the darn thing. So, roll up your sleeves, and let’s turn this painfully obvious task into a fun and heroic journey!
What is your intention for yourself?
When was the last time you checked in with yourself? When was the last time you dreamed about who you want to be?
Here’s your chance and invitation. Apply for a complementary strategy session! Let’s talk about who you want to be and how to get there. Let’s be intentional about it!
