Living with intention means that you have a clear understanding of what it is you want. It means that you are being your authentic self and that you are focused on that. You purposely align your values and goals toward your intended result and do whatever it takes to accomplish your goal. I know this sounds really easy but I am here to tell you, as you already know…it isn’t.
However, when you walk in your intention and realize your goal(s) as a result, it is a wonderful thing. There is nothing like it!Some steps toward living with intention.
Visualize…
Walk in faith as though whatever it is you’re trying to realize has already happened. If you have a health issue visualize yourself well every day. Wake up in the morning and look in the mirror and tell yourself, “I am well, my body is whole. I am not in pain!” Say it or whatever your mantra is related to your intent with conviction and believe it. Don’t think about anything else in that moment. I use a health condition as an example but it could be anything like losing weight or earning additional income for instance. The point here is you have to say it, believe it and most importantly visualize it. When you recite your mantra or positive statement each day, don’t just rush through it so you can check it off your list of tasks to complete. Take a minute. Slow down, breathe it in. Meditate on it and get it your whole being. Say your mantra out loud to let your body, your cells and every part of your body know to do their part; this is our new reality.
Now the work…
Many of you reading this know already know what is next…yes, the very familiar text from the bible: Faith without works is dead (James 2:14-17). You are going to have to work. Nothing worth having is easy. My suggestion is to start with small incremental steps remembering that whatever you are dealing with didn’t happen in a day and it will take longer than a day to heal and correct the situation. It can be really small, for instance if it is weight you are trying to lose, stop eating those chips and grab a healthy treat. If it is inflammation in your joints that you are dealing with, don’t grab a candy bar as snack. Only you know what that thing is for you. Seek to know what those things are that you need to do to help you accomplish your goal. As you work to figure this out, be brutally honest with yourself about what you need to do and craft your plan to get there.
You have to remember your intention daily and plan for those roadblocks that are certain to creep up along the way. For example, I try to maintain a “good diet” daily. My intention is to eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily, no processed or packaged foods and little to no added sugar a day. When I plan and pack my meals for the day, accomplishing this is not hard at all. However, if I don’t plan it is almost impossible to eat this way.
Planning…
The work comes in planning; you must plan and anticipate roadblocks to be able to accomplish your intended goals. Keep an agenda or a journal or whatever tool you use to help keep yourself on track. This has to also be intentional. Every day, without fail, you have to execute your plan. And should you slip up, don’t beat yourself up or use that as an excuse to quit; get up, brush yourself off and go back at it!
Commitment…
Lastly, commit to being intentional. We all know that the science states it takes 21 days to make something a habit. But if you commit to it for 90 days it becomes a personal lifestyle change. There is an anonymous saying which makes this point better than I can: “People do not decide their future. They decide their habits and their habits decide their future.” Intentionally create the habits you want to get the future you deserve. For the next 90 days live with intention and watch the transformation. You got this!