Be Intentional
Far too often we can roll through our daily life in auto-pilot. We can fall into habits and routines that get us from day to day without any thought. Our habits and routines can be good, and sometimes they can be bad. Bad, in the way that they may not help us to grow, or make room for pursuits that we are passionate about. Not all habits or routines are bad, but if there is an on-going routine that does not allow for change, growth, or greater pursuits, then perhaps it is time to make some changes and to be more intentional with how you live.
What does it mean to be intentional? Intentional means: doing something on purpose, with intention, or by design. Living intentionally means that a person is highly aware of themselves, their surroundings, and their resources. What are resources? Time, energy, relationships, and money, these are all examples of resources that we have available to us. By being aware of our resources, we can better focus on living, and living more intentionally.
The opposite of intentionality is just going through the motions and living passively. Going through the motions and living without purpose is typical of someone who is not really living in a mindful or purposeful manner.
When someone is more intentional with their resources, there are multiple benefits. Typically, someone like this will not want to waste or lose their time, opportunities, or energy. They realize the value of every opportunity they receive, the blessing of each new day, and how precious life is. Intentional people often are more structured and passionate about their schedules, habits, choices, and routines. If something, or someone is a hindrance to their goals or values, then these things are usually limited, reduced, or removed from an intentional person’s lifestyle. When someone is intentional, they want to maximize their focus and effort. So they will reduce or eliminate distractions in order to pursue growth and progress.
Being more intentional is about being more mindful of your life and the direction that you are heading. So what do you need to do? Do you find yourself going through the motions? Is your daily and weekly routine allowing you to grow, or are you stuck in an endless cycle? What needs to change? What things need more focus? What things need less attention and time?