You know where you’re going, you have goals in place to get there and habits as stepping stones. Now what? Step 4: how to live an intentional life is about cleaning up your environment and staying consistent. You may not want to hear this but it’s not glamorous. Can I just be real for a moment?
This is where everyone gets stuck. This is where I get stuck. Imagining your dream life and choosing a final destination – amazing. Setting goals – a little scary but motivating. Creating intentional habits – challenging at times but invigorating too, especially when you start to see results. Cleaning up your environment? Yeah, no thank you. Consistency? Like how long we talking? Ha ha.
Regardless, these steps are necessary to your success. Not success in terms of losing the weight, running a successful business, reaching that goal or landing the promotion although necessary there as well.
Success like…
- looking forward to waking up more than going to bed.
- Being overwhelmed to tears with gratitude at the life you have.
- Staying present enough to notice your favorite flower blooming, your favorite piece of artwork, the sound of kids laughing or that adorable puppy prancing down the sidewalk.
- Being proud of yourself – yes, girl – raise your head up and be proud.
- Living in that sense of calm that everything is going to workout and you’re good right where you are.
That’s what we’re really after, right?
So let’s dive in with Step 4: How to live an intentional life.
Clean up your environment
In Step 3, we talked about adding good habits to our lives and if you’re doing that then this step is much easier. Why? Because when we add the good, the not so good naturally gets pushed to the back of the line. Start by taking close inventory of the moments or days that drag you down and ask these questions.
Did you skip out on a good habit that usually fuels you for the day? If so, what took its’ place? Scrolling on your phone in bed causing you to miss a work out or early morning quiet time to yourself? Skipping that dinner date with your spouse because you didn’t honor your commitment to say no to things that don’t add value?
Did you have interactions that left you feeling blah? Gossip session in the break room at work? Scrolling through negative comments or posts on social media? Believing criticism from someone you would never take advice from?
Where are your thoughts about yourself? Listen to that inner voice. Encouraging? Damaging? Motivating?
After taking inventory, it’s pretty easy to see where changes need to be made. And don’t forget to add in happiness where you take away. Skipping the break room at work – go outside & take a walk, call your friend for a fun chat during lunch – add something that makes the clean up worth it.
Consistency
Now is the time to put it all to work. Don’t grow weary – stay focused on your why and keep moving. If you have a bad day then have a bad day but don’t you let it turn into a bad week. Here are some quotes for motivation…this life you are creating is beautiful and the ripple effect it will have. Just wow.
“Being persistent may lead you to the door but consistency is the key which unlocks it” – Kenny Dasinger
“Consistency is the belt that fastens excellence in position. If you don’t do it repeatedly, you’ll not excel in it.” – Israelmore Ayivor
“Success doesn’t come from what you do occasionally, it comes from you do consistently.” – Marie Forleo
So there you have it, step 4: how to live an intentional life. If you feel out of sorts or just have that longing feeling that there has to be more to life than what you are experiencing, try starting at step 1 and working through these simple steps. Give yourself 3 months of consistent work, intention and focus.
Life is good. It’s precious in the most unique ways. It’s intrinsically creative – you have the freedom to design and paint the canvas of your life how you want. Look around at all the beautiful masterpieces people have created. I can close my eyes and see generations of family sitting around a table laughing, possibly unknowingly, being a part of a beautiful masterpiece a momma has painted. I think of a coach who has impacted countless kids in their years and those moments fit perfectly together molding the most beautiful life.
What is your design?
Jess
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