Why I believe in living intentionally, and why you should too.

I wonder if you began this year with a resolution (or two), a promise to yourself that you will or won’t do something.  

I wonder what motivated that resolution? Is it something you truly want, or is it something that you feel you should want? 

I wonder how you’re getting on with your resolutions, whether it has been easy or difficult to maintain? 

I wonder how you felt when you made yourself that promise, and how you feel now? 

For some of us, the promise of a resolution is all we need, we’ve made a promise to ourselves, and away we go. This works if the resolution really taps into something meaningful to us, is connected to what motivates (what really motivates us), and stretches us, but not too much. 

Sometimes resolutions fall down though. Especially if they’re something we think we should want, if they’re not connected to what is meaningful for us, or if they’re too difficult. 

Especially if they’re based in denial.  

When we deny ourselves something, all we do is think about it, making it almost impossible to say no. By trying to work towards the thing we want, we can almost inadvertently set ourselves up for failure. This can result in us feeling disheartened, berating ourselves and moving further away from our goal. 

But there is an alternative. Living with intention, by identifying something that you want and planning to do it.  

That’s what’s crucial. The plan. And self-compassion. 

By identifying what you want life to be like, and then the ways you can live that life right now. Not by making promises to yourself, or denying yourself, but by knowing what action the person you want to be will take, and doing it. 

Taking small, daily steps towards who you want to be. 

Sounds easy doesn’t it. There are a few things to do to set yourself up for success 

1. Take some time to journal on what you want your life to look like 

1. Identify the gaps – where do you need to make changes or take action? 

1. Pick one area of life, the aspect will have the biggest impact on other areas. 

1. Why is this important? - connect this to your values and meaning. 

1. Get specific about what change you want to make? 

1. What does this look like day to day? – so what small behaviours can you take each day which move you towards the life you want 

1. Create time each week to check in with yourself  

Then put it into practice, this will take perseverance, and bringing yourself back to why. And this is when compassion is going to be important.  

On those days you find difficult, where you revert to your old behaviour remember to treat yourself gently. Remind yourself that no one is perfect, that you are striving for change, you’re doing your best, and tomorrow is a new day. 

You might find James Clear’s Atomic Habits and Stephen Joseph’s Authentic useful as you start this work.  

And if you need some help putting your vision into action, we can chat, drop me a message.