Are you feeling overwhelmed? Do you feel unfulfilled? Are you struggling with organization? Do you want to have a more happier life?

Growing up, in my faith I was told to be intentional when I prayed. In other words, be more specific so I got exactly what I wanted. This concept can be applied to all aspects of your life not just your spiritual one. I recently applied this to my professional life when I was seeking more legal remote work. The minute I stopped applying to everything that was not that I landed the remote position I desired!

What does it mean to be intentional?

Being intentional means you purposefully  interact and engage with your life for your ultimate desired outcome. This means you are purposeful in every word and action.

You respond instead of react. You love instead of fear. You embrace instead of expect. You accept instead of resist.

Why be intentional?

Drake has a rap lyric that says “Everybody dies but not everyone lives.” Be intentional because you want to do more than just get by. Be intentional because you dream and want to have a happy, successful and fulfilling life.

How to live an intentional life

1. Practice consistency with small steps. Create an ideal day and begin to execute some quick and easy actions that reflect that ideal. Whether it’s morning prayer, gym time, or reading a few pages of a book, small consistent action is more important than immediate results because it leads to long term success in the bigger things.

2. Express gratitude. Life is lived in this moment, enjoying what you have here and now versus what will be in the future will lead to a happier life everyday.

3. Take a Breathe. Pause before you make a decision. Taking a moment to reflect before making a final decision will make you more proactive than reactive.

4. Know Yourself. What’s important to you? What do you love to do? Which people are meaningful to you? What inspires you?

5. Discover Your Choices. You may feel stuck sometimes but the truth is you have unlimited choices. Widen your perspective and make a list of your choices so you have a visual for best path for you to take.

6. Declutter your life.  Rid yourself of those things that hold you back from living a purposeful and fulfilling life. This can be bad habits, negative attitudes, situations, and people that do not add value to your life. Like the song says, “I can do bad by myself!”

7. Forgive. Forgive yourself, forgive others. Holding onto resentments holds you back.

8. Stop comparing yourself. It may sound cliche but it doesn’t matter what anyone else is doing. We all have our own paths in life. Even those that appear to have a perfect life DON’T! Do what’s best for you- whether it’s marrying later so you can marry the best person for you or holding out for the job you are truly passionate about. Do what’s best for you!