It can be so easy to set things on autopilot, falling subject to the dulling repetition of an everyday routine, lacking the interest in true fulfillment, suppressing any ability to make choices with meaning and intent. Living a life of intention requires energy that quite frankly, a lot of the time we are not interested in using. Not only does intentional living require energy, it also requires time and being present. We have the choice to want more, be more and do more, but we often fail to acknowledge the true understanding of what we want, why we want it and what it takes to actually achieve out goals. Even more, we lack the drive to seek the resources necessary to make those choices happen.
This is a clear demonstration of lacking the true Power of Intent. Each year begins with setting resolutions that often don’t make it very far. Rather than making a resolution and losing sight of your vision along the way and lacking motivation to see things through, you should always make a goal on the basis it falls in line with your true goal to live a life full of intent.
Intentional living requires being conscious in every moment, and making an effort to live each day according to our values and defined beliefs. This requires some effort and discipline to accomplish, and though it may not be the most interesting part of the process, it is one of the most important components. By avoiding to put into perspective exactly what you value and believe, risks you pursuing goals inadvertently and misaligning your priorities.
This workout line was obviously created intentionally for the babes looking to look good while getting in a much needed calorie burn.
Not only are they stylish but the quality is also great. I have lots of flexibility and because they are lined, I don’t have to worry about any imprints of my undergarments peeking through.
Some ways I plan on being intentional with this year includes:
- Be Happy – Associate myself with activities, settings and surround myself with people that contribute positively with my energy.
- Better Health – Keeping active and incorporating nourishing options into my diet. Maintaining a routine of some sort to visit the gym or a fitness center.
- Work Hard, Play Harder – If anyone knows me, they know I am driven and a go getter. This will always be a part of who I am, however, this year I want to spend more time than I have in the past by enjoying the fruits of my labor.
Lets get specific……
Vision + Plan = Path to Success
So, how do you define your values? Recall the moments in your life when you were happy and also what contributed to that happiness. Get deep by thinking of why it made you happy in the first place. Make a note of each experience and the related feelings. Now, visualize how you would imagine your future. As you age and grow, what does this look like to you? Consider your present and past relationships, career expectations, spiritual practices and service to others.
Once you have a clear idea, begin to define your value, listing each on paper, creating a vision board for a visual reminder and then begin to prioritize each. You should now have a clear vision of what your values are and what is required in maintaining the integrity of each value on a daily basis. With this, you’ll be able to create a plan that will help guide you in confidently making decisions that will essentially align with your overall objectives and intents.
Without a clear vision and plan, you may be unclear of which path is the right one to take on your way to success. Defining first your vision and plan to obtaining achievement of your newly prioritized values will eliminate wasted time taken going through un-calculated and ineffective movements.
Value Driven Goals
Achievement is a characteristic associated with happiness in almost every gesture made. It is an incentive for successfully executing a plan from start to finish, all without compromising any of the values and beliefs you wish to maintain. When reflecting on the values and beliefs you’ve defined to fuel your goals, good measure is to ensure they are ones you can be proud of since essentially, these are a reflection of you.
This year, rather than setting short lived new year resolutions, form a new habit of self reflection to align your vision by driving your goals with your defined beliefs and values, getting on track to produce the results that will help you achieve creating the future you want.
Change in Value
Value change just as much as you value the end result. Don’t feel obligated to maintain the same values and beliefs as you grow. Your personal values and beliefs are not set in stone. Understand that as you purse new things and as life progresses some of your values will require reevaluating and adjusting.
Take control of the change and adapt by putting the same process for defining and prioritizing your new value into perspective. Depending on how often you experience significantly impacting changes in your life, is what will determine how often you will need to make adjustments to your current list of values, removing and reorganizing as needed.
Emotional Intelligence
One of the biggest elements in living intentional is being in tune with your emotional energy. Believe it or not, simply being mindful of your personal needs, understanding yourself and what you believe can be the final piece of the puzzle. Intentional living means to have more control of your life and outcome of the choices you make. Just think how much more successful you’d be at accomplishing a life of intent, if you were able to identify your personal emotions, what they mean, where they derive and how to use them to your advantage. Knowing when these emotions may be on set, distinguishing the difference in each and how to recognize them enough to motivate yourself or create better relationships.