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What Does Living Intentionally Really Mean? Inspirational Reads Chapter 15

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It was two years ago that “intentional” was my word for the year. But, what does living intentionally really mean?

This was a word that I felt compelled to choose because at that time, it really hit me hard that my oldest child was 13, which meant that if she were to leave home as a freshman in college, she would only be with us for another five years. I have no idea where all those years went. It still just amazes me – and now she’s 15!!!

Within the definition of intentional, you will find words such as planned, deliberate, and purposeful, but the word that I loved the most that is associated with this definition is calculated.

To me, calculated is a very direct word. It illustrates a very direct action. Calculated is an even stronger word than intentional, at least it seems that way to me.

So, what then does living intentionally mean? To me, living intentionally encompasses these 10 things:

living intentionally

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1. Knowing your purpose

I think before you can determine what living intentionally means in your life you have to know what your purpose is, however, it has to go along with…

2. Knowing your season

There are times when your purpose has to change, whether it is a change that you like or intended to embrace or not. Whether your season is one of your choosing or not, knowing your purpose goes hand in hand with knowing your season.

3. Knowing your priorities

Once you know your purpose and your season, it means that you can then move forward into being able to define your priorities. Your priorities will always need to be in line with your purpose and your season.

4. Knowing your responsibilities

While there are times that we would rather not have certain responsibilities, the truth is that you have certain responsibilities all throughout your life. For instance, maybe you are serving as a a caregiver for an ailing parent. Especially if this responsibility came to you rather suddenly, this could be a responsibility that you wouldn’t normally choose. However, this is most likely a responsibility that you must incorporate into your life right now. It is necessary to embrace both the wanted and the unwanted responsibilities and choose to be intentional within them.

5. Knowing your limits

Let’s face it, we often don’t like to admit that we have limitations, but we do all have them. We need to resist the urge to put on our Wonder Woman cape in order to define and take ownership of our limitations. You are not weak because you have limitations. Let’s try that again…you are not weak because you have limitations. Having limitations makes you human, and accepting and working within the framework of those limitations opens the door to living intentionally. I would find it nearly impossible to live intentionally if I wasn’t also taking my limitations into account.

6. Leave pockets of time in your day, every day, blank

Lysa refers to this as “white space” in chapter 15. I can guarantee, from personal experience, that without white space in your daily plan you will miss countless opportunities to be intentional in each moment. This was one of my greatest discoveries or aha moments as I focused on being intentional in 2014.

7. Schedule intentional moments into your life

I cannot tell you what your intentional moments should be, but they could be things like dating your spouse, dating your kids, really listening to your kids, having some fun with your kids, choosing to turn around a time that you blow it, having a fun yet meaningful conversation with your kids, and more. The important thing, however, is that you schedule opportunities to be intentional with those who are an important part of your daily responsibilities.

8. Evaluate how you are doing on a regular basis

This can be painful, but taking an honest look at how you are doing, really doing, at being intentional is so important. I found it useful to keep a little log of the blessings I received in being intentional. Not so much in a journaling kind of way, but just in more of a bullet point format. It is still such an inspiration to me when I go back and read about all the things I very well could have missed along the way throughout that year.

9. Try new things

If you are just getting started on purposefully being more intentional, play around with it. Try a variety of new things. Don’t get stuck in a rut. Keeping things new and exciting is a great motivator to continue on in your quest to live more intentionally.

10. Keep your eyes open all the time

If your eyes are not open, it is amazing what you will miss. This was what I noticed the most throughout 2014. Moving forward from 2014, I am certainly better at it, but I can even surprise myself at what I almost miss at times. You can read more about this in The Day I Almost Missed Being an Intentional Mom and How the Worst Part of My Day Became the Best Part of My Day.

In chapter 15 of The Best Yes, Lysa talks all about being open for the little things in life.

A couple of my favorite quotes from chapter 15 that speak to this are:

“Connecting with those we love is like soul food. It’s not that we don’t have tasks to do, but rather that we don’t fill up with tasks at the risk of starving our relationships. Relationships nourish us in ways that nothing else can.”

“Doing what seems easy in the moment often isn’t what’s best for us for the long term.”

“Conversational threads are what make up the fabric of relationships. We must take time — make time — to talk. 

“I don’t want my relationships to be what constantly get my less. So I get intentional about leaving enough unscheduled times on my calendar for relationship moments to happen. I must leave space and look for opportunities to give an unrushed yes.” 

If living intentional is something that sounds like something you’d like to embrace, these 10 steps will help you achieve success!

The thoughts shared in this post were inspired by a chapter in The Best Yes. This is a book that were are reading together as a community beginning February 22nd, 2016. We are reading just three chapters a week in this book.

inspirational reads

Even if you are not reading along with us this time, you can still pick up your own copy and gain the wisdom you need in making wise decisions in the midst of endless demands.

The Best Yes: Making Wise Decisions in the Midst of Endless Demands

Here is a bit more about our book club…

This book club is a way of encouraging others to carve out the time to read at a pace of just three chapters a week because I’ve learned that finding time to read never just happens on its own.

Every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday there will be blog posts here with Monday’s Inspirational Reads somewhere in the title with my reaction to each of the three chapters for the week, and then on Thursday evening at 9 pm EST we will be on Periscope discussing the chapters in an interactive format. You can find everything you need to know about Periscope by reading The Periscope Lowdown.

All you have to do is grab your book above, and you’re good to go! We’d love to have you join it, otherwise, grab your own copy and read any of the posts with Monday’s Inspirational Reads in the title and you can join in on your own time!

Welcome!!!

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