'If we always do what we have always done, we always get what we have always got!'
Deciding that we want change in our life is easy. Actually changing our life is much, much harder.
That’s because change takes commitment and requires us to live each day with intention. Living with intention means consciously creating the life we want, rather than having other people dictate how we feel and what we do.
Many of us find this incredibly challenging. That’s because it sometimes means we have to unlearn some behaviours while learning some new ones.
It can also mean understanding our core beliefs and then challenging them.
And it almost certainly means looking at our priorities and considering how these can be met.
While this can be hard work, the effort is almost always worth it as it means that we do things with a clearer purpose and focus. In saying this, it would not be healthy or smart to toss out opportunities to just ‘wing it’ and go with the flow. Doing things in life for PURE JOY – no purpose, just pleasure – is a really healthy thing!
To support people to be more intentional, I work with them to understand what is important to them, what needs to change, what skills they need to develop, what conversations they need to share with their significant others, and how to manage any hiccups that arise.
Once this is in hand, I like to encourage people to make time to start their day with a focus on self and intention. Simple seems to work best!
You can try this yourself using the following guidance.
Before you get sucked into the busyness of each day, try putting aside time for the 3 M’s – Mindfulness, Movement, and Mapping.
And yes, I do mean that you should do this before you do anything else! You only need as little as 5 minutes, but if you can put aside 30 minutes, even better. If you are finding it hard to find the time, maybe think about whether there are any social media habits you can give up at least one morning a week.
So, let’s get to the 3M’s.
1) Mindfulness
Read a positive mantra or saying that you think is important in your life. Repeating the same one every day can be really good, especially if it’s something that defines how you want to live your life. Place something simple next to your bed that reflects this.
You could also play a short two-minute mindfulness app – there are plenty of good ones on Insight Timer. They’re free too!
2) Movement
This could be morning exercise, or if that’s not for you, it could simply be doing some conscious movements, that is, more than just getting up and out of bed.
Maybe you could gently stretch your neck and roll your shoulders. Or perhaps you could sit on the edge of the bed and lift your feet up from the floor and stretch them out in front of you. If you are stuck on what to do, a quick internet search will bring up lots of gentle, seated exercise sessions.
3) Mapping
Take a few minutes to think about the day ahead. Ask yourself: What are the important things I need to do and have I allowed enough time to do them? What do I want to influence today to make it the best it can be?
I have always admired people who seem to have a good handle on what matters to them. These people exude strength because they are living their life thoughtfully.
I know it can be a challenge to live life with a bit more intention. But imagine how empowering it could be to really think about what you are doing and how you are doing it so that it actually lines up with the kind of person you want to be.
If you’d like some support to help you make changes in your life and to live your life with more intention, book a time to meet with me and we can discuss it in person.
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