Practicing the Art of Intentional Living
“Intentional living is the art of making our own choices before others’ choices make us.” Richie Norton, author and podcaster
Consider for a moment how you started this day. Literally, what are the first things you thought and did? If you are like many, your day started with some type of alarm going off, and then your thoughts immediately started planning for the day while you reached to check your mobile device.
What might it look like if you started your day more intentionally, from a place I call “by design”? This is something I started doing a few years ago and it has completely changed my life for the better. Even before my feet hit the floor each morning, I pause, take a few deep breaths, and ask myself, “Who and how will I show up this day?” In other words, what will be the “experience of myself” for my family, friends, colleagues, patients, care team, neighbors, and strangers throughout the many opportunities, challenges, frustrations, and “surprises” that await. In doing this, I am recognizing there are many “Marks” who have the potential to appear and there is a window of opportunity before the sun rises to consciously “choose” before some of the more assertive “selves” or the busyness of the day try to take charge.
The Sanskrit name for this approach to “whole life” intention-setting is sankalpa. A sankalpa is an intention formed by the heart and mind – it is a is a vow and commitment made to support one’s highest truth and best self, and is something lived into in the present, not some time off in the future. Doing so is what makes it more powerful than a goal. Think of it as “a promise to your Soul.”
As my day progresses, I keep some words in my “toolbox” that serve as a reminder of my intention. These include “remember” “choose,” “pause” and “A-Game” that I repeat silently to myself when thoughts or circumstances are causing me to potentially “veer” from my stated desire as to how I want to be in that moment. For you, this reminder could be a word, phrase, symbol, or even picture. Not surprisingly, research has found that such regular intention setting can actually “rewire” our brain, alter our psyche, and even change our physiology.
How about you? What “Soul promise” are you embracing each day to help provide focus as you connect with others? If you’re not doing so by intention, you’re doing so by default, and likely, as the quote above indicates, the “world” is making many of “your” choices for you. Why not consider starting each morning for the next 7 days by consciously answering the question “Who and how will I show up this day?” and notice what happens. Better yet, why not agree with your PeerRx buddy to both do it, and then provide encouragement and support as you share the experience. Either way, a better version of you will likely guide your way to a much better day. You can thank me later …