People often talk about how living with intention can help you to feel happier and more fulfilled. It may sound like a too-good-to-be-true solution to all your problems – but it’s very true. Starting each day with intention can have a dramatically positive impact on not just your mood, but the way you view your life, yourself, and those around you.
What does it mean to live with intention?
The definition of intention is an aim or a plan. Living with intention is to have an aim or a plan for your life, or maybe just for your day, or for the next hour. Life can be busy, and it can also be full of unpredictable events or interactions that cause us stress. That makes it that much more important for us to take control and center ourselves when and where we can. We all deserve to live an intentional life, and one of the ways we can achieve this is through starting our day with intention.
It doesn’t take long – between five and fifteen minutes every morning – and there are several ways you can go about centering yourself and starting your day intentionally.
Meditation
Meditation is not a one-size-fits-all practice, which is why I like it so much for an intentional practice. Rather than trying to clear your mind of thoughts, focus on what you want your day to be. Focus on how you want to feel. Do you want to feel nurtured? Loved? Productive? Creative? Whatever you want out of your day, focus on that for just a few minutes. Over the course of your day, when you feel overwhelmed or like you’re not in control, revisit this intention. Are your decisions moving you toward the way you want to feel or away from them?
A Quick Walk
Make time in your morning to take a 5-15 minute walk. Breathe in the fresh air, take in your surroundings. Use this time to clear your head, and take deep, relaxing breaths. By taking a small bit of time in the morning to focus on and invest in yourself, you are prioritizing you today. Getting your blood flowing wakes up your mind, contributes to your physical health, and centers your emotions.
Journaling
People often shy away from journaling because they feel that their writing has to be top notch, or they’re worried they won’t have anything to journal about. Journaling might not be for everyone, but taking a few minutes at the start of your day to jot down, even if only in bulleted form, how you want to feel today and what you want your life to look like – from big dreams to simple daily goals – can often center you and help you work towards those goals.