Life is a patchwork quilt of notes-to-self, memories and love. And intentionality is what keeps the stitches straight and what turns the patterns into a story; without it, moments are left scattered. For some, the concept of intentional living is just that – merely conceptual – but, for others, it’s a natural and undeniable drive that propels them to design the quilt they’d like to see materialize.
Intention is intangible, making it potentially complex to grasp – until you define it for yourself. Once achieved, it is the foundation beneath perspective, mindfulness and acceptance. It is something that creates space in your life for new doors to open in your mind. It is a rare opportunity to find motivation in stillness, enhance your attention and safeguard your peace in the face of uncertainty.
For the people who make intentionality their full-time lifestyle, mindfulness is second nature. Places are no longer empty but rich with silence; emotions are a power source; and choices are more than a sugar-high or a quick-fix. What persists is purpose, and the outlook that everything is an opportunity.
It starts in the moment. A good way to take stock of where you are is to acknowledge what you are grateful for, what you’ve worked hard to achieve and the redirections that have led you to where you are. Perception can be deceiving and memory is arbitrary, so this can take time. Which leads to my next suggestion: slow down. If you’re not in a situation where this feels possible, bend the rules mentally – can you identify your thoughts as they emerge, and choose which one you’d like to follow? Intentionality involves a series of decisions, with the conscious-altering final verdict being that you control your reality.
People will tell you that your time should align with your priorities, ruling out the value of spontaneity. Expectations separate us from reality, and schedules can cause us to neglect the fleeting moments. But it is possible to maintain routine and spontaneous decisions simultaneously. Nurturing your mindset to make time for new things can diminish the threat of burnout and instigate excitement for something new to explore. Getting away doesn’t have to be on a plane, and can happen all in your mind – removing yourself from stressors or channeling your inner tourist in your own city.
Just like you do every spring, declutter and dust off. Next, establish boundaries to protect what is important to you and what you want to keep shiny on the shelves. Sentiment can keep things hanging around in closets or in the backs of our minds, but freeing up space for what is important to you is just one way to value gaining ground, with less to carry. The state of your bedroom reflects the state of your mind; that chair in the corner draped haphazardly in clothes, cups left on the nightstand and an overflowing hamper – you can push it until it becomes necessary, but tidying up will check one box on your to-do list and allow you to relax into healthy organization.
Under a certain light, the idea is an illusion. There is a current cultural obsession with wellness, pushing people to become their best selves with a hot girl walk or by saving a viral TikTok audio that promises luck. When stripped of its embellishments and celebrity endorsements, intention is an intrinsic inclination. There’s truth in the Deepak Chopra quote, “What you pay attention to grows;” the state of our attention can rechannel our priorities. By tuning out distractions, there is a higher chance to increase the overall quality of life – not to be mistaken for a “perfect” life.
