Do you ever look back over your day and feel disappointed about how you showed up?
The early morning argument with your spouse. Being impatient with your kids. Procrastinating at work. Doing more advice giving than listening on the call with your sister.
None of it is what you intended.
But…what did you intend? Do you know?
Living with intention is being deliberate about how you want to show up. It’s done-on-purpose living.
Here are 5 ways to put a little more intention in every day.
What’s your intention for today?
You don’t need to spend hours coming up with an intention for the day, but it’s worth a couple minutes in the morning when you first wake up—before the day starts to unfold on its own. Ask yourself: How do I want to live this day on purpose? Who do I intend to be? Listen for your intuitive answer. If you ask and truly listen, your answer—your intention—will be clear.
What’s your intention for the next hour?
Life happens. Your kid comes home sick from school and you have to scramble to reschedule a client meeting. This is not what you intended at the start of your day. But given how things are now, what’s your intention for the next hour? For instance, perhaps you want to be deliberate about living your value: Family first. Which means rescheduling your client without guilt or second guessing.
How will you course correct?
It’s afternoon… and the intention you set when the day was new and shiny isn’t resonating. Instead, the day is happening and you’re just reacting to the events and people around you. What’s your plan to course correct when you find yourself moving through the day in reaction-mode rather than on purpose? Have a plan for realigning with your intention.
Are you living your core values?
You have a core set of values you need to truly live in order to feel at home in your skin, at peace in your mind, and like you’re fully showing up in your own life. For instance, if one of your core values is appreciation, living this value means moving through your day from a thankful state, noticing and being grateful. Living your core values is living with intention. Do you know what your core values are? Are you living them?
How do you want to feel?
Your thoughts create your feelings. Deciding how you want to feel—and thinking thoughts to help you feel that way—is intentional living at its best. Want to feel joyful? Empowered? Optimistic? When you think on purpose—by intentionally choosing your thoughts—you can create the feelings you want. Go ahead, try it. How do you want to feel? What thoughts will help you feel that way?
How do you want to show up? Are you ready to put a little more intention in your day?
