Learning to live with intentions

As I grow older and hopefully wiser, I strive to live each day with intention and purpose with a conscious decision to make the most out of each day. This small but powerful act has helped me focus on my priorities and tackle the day’s challenges head-on. I think about how can I better myself, my current situation, or possibly, the world around me.

Life is all about the choices we make and our success depends on these choices. It’s easy to coast through our days, months, or even years apathetic and compliant. I do it too sometimes.

Instead of depending on pure willpower, I focus on my ‘Why Power‘. Why Power is the process of identifying what and why an intention is important to you. I wanted to strive to be more impactful, positive, and a nourishing person to myself, those around me, and within my work. It allows me to reframe my mind and actions. Having these intentions allows me to curve bad behaviors, steer away from negative thoughts and self-talk, and slowly improve my relationship with those around me.

Of course, this was not an overnight process nor did I receive instant results as anything related to personal development. I will be the first to admit, I catch myself having negative thoughts, desires to act on my bad habits, and overcoming issues with those around me. That said, having my intentions as the anchor has increased self-awareness of my destructive tendencies and behaviors patterns that were preventing me from reaching my goals.

Here’s how you can set your intentions too:

1. Choose 3 intentions you would like to strive for. Whatever feels right to you and can bring you closer to what you’re striving for. It can be going out of your comfort zone, making new friends, or launching the business you’ve always dreamt of. Mine includes:
   1. Living each day to make an impact. No matter how small, whether in my work, with others, or for myself, my decisions had to make a progressive impact.
   2. Be positive in how I think, feel, and emulate the positivity to others so they can be positive too!
   3. Make nourishing decisions. Do things that are good for me. This can be as small as being more conscious of what I eat to focusing on taking better care of myself and those around me.
2. Simplify these intentions to easy-to-remember Why Powers. Use 1 or 3 Why Powers to direct yourself to accomplish your intentions. Keep it simple and start with a small. You can always add more once you’re comfortable with the process and results you’re getting. My 3 Why Powers are: impact, positive, and nourishing.
3. Remind yourself of your intentions throughout the day. As soon as you wake up, repeat a few self-affirmations, set your intentions, then take on the day! Throughout your day, remind yourself of your intentions and how you can achieve them. I find it helpful to think of my intentions when I’m in a difficult situation and ask myself, “will my response satisfy my intentions? Will it have an impact that I want? Will it be positive or nourishing for myself or others involved? If not, how can I make a decision that will?” I also write sticky notes with my 3 intentions around my workspace a nice gentle reminder.
4. Create good habits, set a course of actions, and repeatedly make conscious decisions that will help you achieve your intentions.

Naturally, my intentions of how I choose to live each day will be different from yours. I hope you find this frame of mind helpful and give it a try. I would love to hear your Why Powers and how you plan to think it can help you on your journey! Please comment and share your Why Powers and how you plan to achieve your intentions.

Inspired by successful business owners and community leaders in my life & Sadia of Pick Up Limes

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