Living Intentionally. This phrase is thrown around a lot these days. What does it all mean?
To be intentional, one must act with a clear purpose in mind. If you are living a life that is packed with choices that positively affect you, it means you are thinking ahead OR being intentional! By making a priority of what truly matters to your life’s existence, whether it be a physical, mental, emotional or spiritual feed, you will be brought back to the present moment. And, it is in living in the present moment that these conscious choices become clear.
I meet each new day with a routine of asking the question, “What is important today?” In that practice, I seek to limit distraction, offer up my appreciation to God and seek gratitude so that I may stay grounded. Setting a morning intention is what drives my day. Intentional living is powerful, but in the beginning of the practice it can be challenging. Once you get to the core of what matters to your day, you can make the choice to steer away from activities that would deter your efforts.
Similarly, I end my day with a recount of how I connected to the purpose I set in my morning intention. Was my objective met? Did I accomplish remaining at peace? This tenet of mine always brings me back to a more patient and compassionate self. It is as good as any practice for moderating the tempo of the day and bettering your humanity as a whole.
P.S. Pearl Bailey, one of my main characters, is clearly demonstrating the art of being intentional. In this photo, apparently laying in the mud is what was important to her day! Gotta’ love an intentional dame!