Living With Intent

Today I wanted to chat about living with intent. When we live with intent, it's like we're taking the steering wheel of our lives instead of just going through the motions.

Now, intent might sound like a big, fancy word reserved for grand gestures, like walking a tightrope or taking a solemn vow. But guess what? It's not just for the high-wire acts of life; it's for the everyday stuff, too, like making breakfast or going to work. Yes, even the most mundane tasks can be transformed into something profound when you sprinkle a little intent on them. And the best part? It's as easy as giving it a shot.

In the world of Zen Buddhism, intent is like a secret ingredient. Monks spend years honing their ability to do one thing at a time with absolute presence of mind. Most of us, on the other hand, are pros at multitasking—talking on the phone while doing dishes and boiling water for tea all at once. My mother was a master at it...she could have a load of laundry going while dinner was cooking...she was watching a television show, while reading a book AND having a conversation at the same time - all while smoking a cigarette! It's a juggling act we've mastered in the chaos of daily life. But what if I told you there's another way?

From the moment we open our eyes in the morning, we can start our day with intent by simply acknowledging, "Hey, I'm awake right now." It's that simple, my friends. Throughout the day, we can keep that intent party going by saying things like, "I'm aware that I'm driving to work," or "I'm aware that I'm whipping up dinner." Heck, you can even get real basic and say, "I'm aware that I'm breathing."

By doing this, we're not just going through the motions; we're owning our actions. It's like waking up from a zombie-like state and diving headfirst into reality. Ever notice how often we do things on autopilot, without a second thought? It's a lot, trust me. But when we infuse even one daily task with the energy of intent, magic happens. Now, picture what our whole day could look like if we carried that intent with us from dawn to dusk.

Living with intent isn't reserved for the experts or the super formal crowd. It's for all of us, and it can transform the way we experience life. Give it a shot and see how it feels. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this one! #LiveWithIntent #OwnYourActions #Intentions #ConsciousLiving #BePresent #GoHappyYourself