SFH #207: Being Intentional
The Practice 🎼
As you’ve no doubt felt in some form or fashion in chasing your goals in life, doing it with intention creates room for mindfulness and purpose in your actions, thoughts, and decisions.
I’ve been hosting a weekly open community call every Tuesday at 3:00 PM EST, aptly named ‘Be Intentional.’ In our short time together in this mini case study, here are some things we’ve accomplished thus far.
We’ve been clarifying our values and goals: We’ve taken time to reflect on what truly matters to us in life. We’ve helped each other define and shape our values and long-term goals. I’ve always found that understanding what I want to achieve will help me make choices that align with my true aspirations in life.
Of course, we set intentions: In fact, I’ve been practicing this at the beginning of each day and week. I set intentions for what I want to accomplish daily and even how I want to show up in various aspects of my life. This is primarily executed through my 2-minute journal practice. For others on the call, it has been as simple as intending to be present in their interactions with others or committing to completing a specific task with focus and diligence.
We emphasize practicing mindfulness: In case you haven’t caught on to the modern renaissance, mindfulness helps you become more conscious of your thoughts, emotions, and actions, allowing you to respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively. I’ve found our group to help reinforce the power of staying mindful in an increasingly distracting world.
We prioritize our time and energy: This is probably high on everyone’s daily life list of needs and wants. How skilled are you at staying focused on your identified priorities and allocating your time and energy accordingly? How are you at saying no to commitments or activities that don't align with your values or goals and focusing your resources on what truly matters to you?
We’ve discussed the pitfalls and how to avoid Multitasking. On the call, we discuss many resources. One of the latest was Cal Newport's book Deep Work. He comprehensively outlines the cons of a task-switching lifestyle and the true value of staying deeply focused on your highest-value work.
We reflect to each other regularly: Taking time to reflect on experiences, choices, and outcomes has been my favorite experience in peer groups over the last few years. We get the chance to ask ourselves what went well, what didn't, and what we can learn from each situation. My reflections help me refine my intentions and make adjustments as needed.
We practice gratitude: We cultivate an attitude of gratitude by regularly acknowledging and appreciating the good things in our lives. Gratitude fosters a positive mindset and helps you stay focused on what truly matters, enhancing your sense of intentionality.
We embrace our imperfection: Through this practice, I think we have come to understand that being intentional doesn't mean being perfect. Easier said than accepted at times in a results-driven culture, but the practice of processing our imperfections helps us make space for our setbacks along the way. What matters is our commitment to learning and growing from these experiences.
Whether you do this regularly on a call like ours or find your own container, incorporating these practices into our daily lives allows us to develop greater intentionality and live more purposefully.
We all gain and grow from these calls. The case study has been a success, so now we are opening it up to others who would like to add some more intentionality to their lives! If you’d like to learn more about the call or join us, just contact me directly. It’s a free call and a supportive group of intentional human beings. No required attendance. Show up when you can and how you can.
Cheers,
Brian