Live Life with Intention
I participated in a training session focused on developing a courageous vision for my professional and personal life over the next year. We were asked to time warp one year out and visualize success in areas such as personal and professional growth, quality of relationships, business outcomes, and perspective on life. Think of it as an opportunity to put limitations aside, dream big, and reflect on what's important and truly matters.
'Live life with intention' consistently bubbled up as a theme and mantra for several senior leaders who previously participated in the same training. I was so impressed with their vulnerability and willingness to share their stories, fears, and journeys. We were encouraged to focus on the intention to live a better-balanced life full of meaning and purpose. When we live with intention, we wholeheartedly engage in activities that are worthwhile to us.
Simple enough, right? Well, for me, this required some research, work, and soul searching to define, mobilize and adhere to what living a life with intention actually means. While also knowing that transformation takes time and it's a journey.
"The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction, not a destination." - Carl Rogers
Get Crystal Clear on Values
Values determine our priorities. When the things we do and how we behave match our values, life is usually good, and we generally feel satisfied and content. But, when activities and behaviors don't align with our values, we feel uneasy and dissatisfied, which can be a source of unhappiness.
I had to get crystal clear on my values to ensure that the vision, intention, and focus for 2022 and beyond are squarely centered around my values and priorities. Many values matter to me, such as curiosity, family, health, community, courage, faith, grit, and optimism. I leaned in on two that will guide my decisions, actions, and behaviors. Brene' Brown has a great exercise to help you do this. https://brenebrown.com/resources/living-into-our-values/. When honing in on values, it's critical to reflect on your whole self. You do not have different values for work and personal life.
When we live out our values without self-judgment we find the courage to grow and change for the better. We become more mindful and identify if behaviors and actions align with our core values.
Set Healthy Boundaries
Healthy boundaries create space and opportunity to commit to values, flourish, and achieve career goals and life dreams. With boundaries, you establish how you want to be treated, the rules for how others learn to behave around you, and what you will and will not accept. It is not selfish or offensive to make these requests.
There is no guilt or shame in saying no to what does not serve you or is not aligned with your priorities.
Establish Non-Negotiables
What are the non-negotiables to help you live into your values? If you value health, yet are skipping workouts due to work meetings or other engagements, then make the three times per week workout a priority and a non-negotiable.
Non-negotiables are the things you will not negotiate on. They follow your values and principles and define what you will and won't accept from others and yourself. These are the unbreakable promises you keep to yourself, your family, friends, and colleagues. Only you can determine what they are, and they are the compass that will guide you through tricky times when decision-making is complex.
Some examples include:
Never missing a child's birthday for a work trip
Not working on weekends - family time
Meditating for at least 5 minutes every day
At least 30 minutes of exercise every day
Weekly call to a friend
Start by brainstorming what matters to you and determine what you refuse to budge on. Narrow down the list and decipher what is truly non-negotiable.
Communicate your non-negotiables with people that matter in your life - like your family and team. This allows others to know what is important to you and they will then support you and help you stay on track.
Getting clear on what matters most to you, setting your non-negotiables around that, and then following through on them can make a massive difference in all aspects of your life.
Tally up the Votes
I love this quote from James Clear. "Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become. No single instance will transform your beliefs, but as the votes build up, so does the evidence of your new identity." - James Clear, Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
Living with intention means living a better-balanced life that's full of meaning and purpose and aligned to your values. Each activity is worthwhile to you and is a vote for the person you want to identify with. It's stepping out of mindless activities and operating on autopilot and moving toward a life based on your own conscious choice of how you want your life to be.
By living with intention, we set out each day to ensure we engage in meaningful activities that fuel us, align with our values, and positively influence our lives and wellbeing.