The ROI of an Intentional Life
We’ve all been there. Having every intention of doing something — big, or small — like folding the laundry. Working out. Flossing (that one’s so relevant it hits different). Then not getting to it. We put something out there to do or try in our minds, then we simply don’t get it done.
And there’s always a reason right? We ran out of time. We forgot. We need to buy floss before actually flossing, and that just turns into a separate spiral of to-dos not worth the cognitive load until a week before the dentist appointment.
We laugh it off, and these are all examples of smaller habits (which we’re not minimizing — they’re also important), but what about the big ones? The actions that can heavily influence our lives?
Like practicing self care, in whatever capacity it shows up for you. Making time to be completely present with loved ones. Surrounding yourself with a community that inspires you. Planning your life strategically, so that you have a clear direction on where you’d like to go.
In the haste and blur that comes with the flurry of our day-to-day lives, we can forget to take a step back, look around, and make sure we’re running in the right direction.
We get one chance at this thing called life, and I think it’s safe to say that none of us want to look back and realize that we let it slip through our fingers.
Seneca, in “On the Shortness of Life” wrote:
“Look back in memory and consider when you ever had a fixed plan, how few days have passed as you had intended, when you were ever at your own disposal, when your face ever wore its natural expression, when your mind was ever unperturbed…how many have robbed you of life when you were not aware of what you were losing, how much was taken up in useless sorrow, in foolish joy, in greedy desire, in the allurements of society, how little of yourself was left to you…”
Too often, we live in a reactive state, taking time for granted. Except time is the one thing we can’t buy more of. One thing we can’t negotiate. It’s valuable — and it’s also limited.
So what do you want to do with your limited time?
There’s a practice I’ve started over the last couple of years — taking time to strategically plan for my life. We do it for our professional careers, but rarely do we take a moment to put that same time and effort into our personal lives.
Except it’s critical. And there are some great resources out there on how to get started.
If this is something you’d like to try, here’s what you can expect:
1. You’ll discover your foundational pillars.
What’s your vision for your life? Your purpose? If you’re reading this, you’ve likely asked yourself that question many times. You’ve felt the pull to figure it out.
Planning helps you to drill down into your non-negotiables. It gives you the tools to build a core so strong that even in life’s day-to-day haste, you won’t lose a sense of who you are, and what’s important to you.
Speaking of the haste, I’ve found that this practice actually removes the daily noise by laying the groundwork to help you identify where to focus your energy. It shows you where to pivot if the things you do don’t align with that. And that brings the calm and intention that many of us crave and search for in our daily lives.
This is powerful, because you’ll be hyper aware. Your perspective will shift, and things in life won’t happen to you. They’ll happen for you. Each twist, turn, challenge and triumph will serve as a purposeful learning opportunity.
2. You’ll Define Your Direction
Ernest Hemingway once wrote:
“Every day is a new day. It is better to be lucky, but I would rather be exact. Then when luck comes, you are ready.”
This speaks to the fact that life will always bring things we can’t control. But if we’re ready, and if we’re equipped with the right tools, we can control what we make of those instances, and how we react to them - even the things we didn’t expect.
Once you’re armed with your foundational pillars, and a direction for your life, you can begin building the daily habits to practice the actions and behaviors that empower you to live a life authentic to you.
3. To do it right , you need to make and invest the time.
Our recommendation? Block that time on your calendar now (yes, right now) — and make it a non-negotiable.
If you want to be a little extra (and we love a little extra), pick a place that inspires you. It’s a little more challenging right now given our current situation with COVID-19, but you can get creative. Maybe it’s turning on calming music that reminds you of your favorite coffee shop, or being transported to a special place virtually as you plan. It helps to be in an environment where you feel connected and at peace.
The key is to dedicate the time to do this work, and focus on you.
Just a few hours to prepare for this beautiful life-long trip that we get to make the most out of, for as long as our hearts continue beating.
Trust us, you are going to learn so much about yourself.
And that process, my friends — is a beautiful thing.
