Putting purpose back into my life…
n
If you had asked me a year ago about living intentionally, I wouldn’t have known what to say. It wasn’t something I was practicing in my daily life. I was just going about the motions of my day: waking up going to work, coming home, eating dinner, relaxing, going to bed. Repeat. I dreamed about a better future, but I was wasting away in the present.
nn
I’ve had a lot of time to think this past year, and it’s given me a new perspective. I spent so much time obsessing about the future with absolutely no plan to get to where I want to be. So much of what I did was influenced by what I thought I was supposed to do, even if it didn’t feel completely right for me.
nn
This led me down a path of feeling useless, purposeless, and depressed. I wasn’t truly happy and felt like my life had no meaning. Like if I died, it wouldn’t really matter or have any impact. I couldn’t keep living like that. I’m the type of person, and maybe you are too, who needs to feel fulfilled, like what I’m doing with my life matters, even in small ways.
nn
That’s why I decided to become more intentional with how I lived. I started by outlining the kind of life and lifestyle I want to have. Some things that came to mind were being healthy & fit, constantly learning, traveling often, spending time with my favorite people, and giving myself as much control over my life as possible.
nn
In order to achieve these goals in life, I have to be intentional about the ways that I spend my time. It involves a degree of planning and discipline, but it’s not as hard as it may seem. When it comes to being healthy, I take time to cook my meals with as many whole foods as possible, adding lots of veggies and protein. I carve out time to go to the gym or yoga. I also consider my mental health and do things to clear my head, like going for walks or talking to my therapist.
nn
It can certainly be hard to maintain this intentionality at times, especially when there are outside forces that may sway you. Whether it’s the irresistible siren-song of TikTok pulling you in as you scroll or your friends wanting to go out when you’re on a budget and can’t afford it, your ability to be intentional can be shaken. But you can’t let it break.
nn
When dealing with these influences, you have to set boundaries. With social media, limit your ability to access the apps. When it comes to your friends, find space in your budget to allow yourself a night out once a month.
nn
Ultimately, I think the key is balance. If you restrict yourself too much in one area, you’re just gonna crave it more. On the other hand, giving into whatever you want is the exact opposite of living with intention, and will likely cause you anxiety in the future when you realize it’s unsustainable. To be intentional is to set boundaries with yourself in order to fuel your passions, stay fulfilled, and give your own meaning to your life.
nn
I’d like to talk more about this in the future, but for now I hope you enjoyed my initial thoughts on living with intention.
nnn
