If you read this post, you know part of the answer already.
“A Simple Life Means an Intentional Life.”
I’ve been asking myself, what does “Intentional” actually mean?
It’s a word that seems to be everywhere you look in blog posts, podcasts, and books, but what does it actually mean? Is each author using the word in the same context? Using the same definition?
According to good ole’ Webster’s Dictionary, intentional means: “Done in way that is planned or intended”.
“Planned”. Ugh. I don’t know about you, but I have a love hate relationship with that word.
The left-brained, logical, to-do-list part of me loves the word. That part wants to know the details of who, what, why, where, and when.
But I don’t always live in that part of my brain. I also enjoy frequent visits to the creative, right-brained part of me, the part that runs away from that same word. This part of me thinks a plan is restrictive and unrealistic. Sure, I’ll follow it for a few days but then something unexpected (unplanned…) happens and that plan flies out the window.
It’s only days later that I remember, oh yeah, I had a plan … and by then I have to re-adjust the entire thing and start again. Not fun.
I like to blame it on not having a good system or the lack of having the correct tool to help keep me on track. Excuses, excuses – I’m the problem not the tool.
So what’ a gal to do?
1. Know your values and priorities – and review them often.
I find this is where I easily get stuck, not reviewing often enough. Life gets busy and I get trapped in the midst of busyness and forget. Forgetting means…
- It’s much easier to run through the drive-through and not make dinner because I did not think through my week or day and plan accordingly.
- It’s easy to keep working until late at night and push aside my need for downtime, writing, doing something creative, or spending time with family.
2. Know your why.
Why do you want to create a simpler life? What does this mean to you?
I can’t overemphasize this one. Knowing your why does two things. First, it helps you push through the tough times and second, it pulls you forward and helps motivate you when you want to quit.
- When you are working on re-paying your debt and you want to go on a vacation, knowing (and I mean REALLY KNOWING) your why will stop you from pulling out that credit card.
- When you are tempted to skip exercising that day, knowing why you are exercising will help you tie on those shoes and go do it even when you don’t feel like it.
“Intentional living is about knowing why you do what you do and why you don’t do what you don’t do.”
~Mandi Ehman, Life Your Way
Once you understand your values and priorities and know your Why, you can make intentional choices.
Click To Tweet
You see, Intentional Living:
- Is a learned skill, a developed habit. It doesn’t happen overnight.
- Is about daily decisions made with your values, priorities and your Why in mind. Even when it is hard and friends and family might not understand.
- Is a journey of many steps and decisions that move you toward your goal of creating a simpler life.
- Is about hitting the pause button on a regular basis to evaluate, review and adjust course as needed.
Creating a Simple Life is simple, but it’s not always easy.
It takes planning and it takes daily intentional decisions, and these decisions are not always easy. But it should not be a dreaded thing either. When it begins to feel like a burden, it’s time to hit the pause button again and evaluate what is working, what isn’t, and what needs to be adjusted.
Remembering Your Why
Find a way to visualize what you are working towards, your big Why.
- Start a Pinterest Board
- Create a vision board
- Pin up pictures on a bulletin board
- Journal it
- Scrapbook it
Create something you will see on a regular basis that will inspire you and help remind you of what is important.
Share what you learn along the way to creating a simpler life. Sharing reminds you how far you have come and just maybe, you might encourage someone else who is on the same journey.
What’s helped you most as you create a simple life?
p.s. Need help decluttering and starting this process? Join me and a very special guest for a free class on conquering your clutter. Learn more and sign up here.
The post What Does It Take To Create A Simple Life? appeared first on tiny apothecary.