Intentional Living

Hello Reader,

I hope your day is going well and you have embraced the four aspects of life we previously discussed in the most recent blog.

I woke up today on auto pilot just doing and not living.

*Brushed my teeth, “Wow, I feel old.”

*Got my coffee, “I’m so tired.”

*Starts the car and drove to work, “Ugh, it’s cold and I forgot my notebook again?! Great.”

*Sits in front of a computer screen and finished writing out my clinical notes, “Why do these notes take so long to write?!”

I took a pause to check in with myself and breath.

“Wait a minute. What is making today such a struggle?”

“INTENTION!!!” I did not set my intentions for the day. I was going about my day by just reacting. No wonder I was having a difficult start to the day.

*Starts to set my intentions for the day, “Okay, I’m going to finish my notes, eat, exercise and then spend some time with friends later.”

*Sets healthy boundaries. “I’ll set an alarm now so I have some lunch and I’ll put my phone on mute so I don’t get distracted.”

Cambridge Dictionary defines intention as, “Something that you want and plan to do”. I did not have a plan for the day and as a result, through the entire morning, I did not have a plan for my life! Talk about existential crisis.

Our intention is a great way to create purpose in our lives. We want to have a balance with our intentions as well. Intention to do the things we need to do in combination with the things that we want to do. This involves setting healthy boundaries with those around us and arguably more important, setting healthy boundaries with ourselves. Boundaries will be explored another time as many people have trouble setting them.

Key takeaways:

1) Intentions help us move from living a reactive life to a proactive life.

2) A balance with our intentions can help not get overwhelmed, stressed, and burned out.

3) Setting healthy boundaries with others and ourselves helps to change the intention to action.