If you are here, you've probably decided to explore and learn about Intentional Living. Congratulations! But just as learning any new things in life, it can be confusing and overwhelming.
How do I start practicing? Is there a ceremony? What exactly do I need to do? Should I tell my husband about it? How do I know I'm doing the right things? What if do it wrong?
I know you can't wait to start practicing. But the first thing you need to do is take a deep breath. Remember why we wanted to learn to live intentionally? Because we want to find happiness and relieve all the unnecessary stress in our life, NOT to add stress.
The thing is, there are no rules or requirements for Intentional Living. You and I could be taking completely different routes from each other. There are no performance reviews, no scorecards, just you and your mind and heart.
But how exactly do you start?
Since it's called Intentional Living, we must first set our intentions.
Intention is an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions. - Vocabulary.com
Many years ago, when I first started practicing yoga, the yoga teacher always started each class by asking us to set our intention for the day in our minds. I never really knew what it was for. Most of the time I just zoned out.
When I first learned about Intentional Living, I immediately try to think of something grant and significant, like turning vegan, saving hungry children from third world countries, or
getting rid of all my clothes and makeup products and not buying any from now on.
Well, you can absolutely set these as your intentions. There are no rules remember? But you don't have to.
Our intentions can be anything really, as small as "I will drink more water today" to as big as "I will rescue all the stray kittens on the street". Small or big, as long as it's true and authentic to you, and it's not to harm others, it's good.
To practice setting intentions and starting to wire your brain for great things, it's a good idea to write it down every day, either on a piece of paper, or notebook. Setting an alarm to do it around the same time each day can help to establish the habit. I also like writing my ideas and intentions on the Notion app on my tablet. In fact, I have created both a printable Daily Self-Check-In Journal Template and a Notion digital template. You can download them for free here.
To get you started on your Intentional Living journey, here are 20 intention ideas to help you get your brain gears going. There are 10 intention phases and 10 words. Feel free to choose the ones that really resonate with you and go from there.
Intention Phases
I will believe I am enough.
I will accept my flaws and believe I am beautiful.
I will focus on the things that I am good at.
I will be grateful for three things every day.
I will let go of the judgments of others.
I will focus on the positives, not the negatives.
I will not be afraid of difficulties in front of me.
I will show up for myself.
I will discover who I am and what I enjoy.
I will become a person that brings positive influence to others.
Intention Words
Focus
Confidence
Beauty
Peace
Joy
Patience
Honesty
Abundance
Clarity
Self-Care
We will end with a quote:
“Intentional living is the art of making our own choices before others' choices make us.” -Richie Norton
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