“Inspiring Intention” asks us to set clear intentions and lead an intentional life. This week we focus on finding and accessing clarity, which serves as a strong foundation for us to live a purpose fueled life. Oftentimes we are caught in a cycle of deliberating and ruminating a path or deciding a means; “should I do X or Y?” It’s akin to choosing a means of transportation before deciding our location or purpose of travel. Should I take the coach or drive to NYC? Getting clarity on the outcomes and purpose of our visit, makes the choice of how to get there effortless. Here is a 3 step process you can follow so you can enjoy the journey instead of being caught up in decision paralysis:
- Centering ourselves – Before we chart our journey and travel path, being grounded is essential. This can be as simple as taking three gentle deep breaths, finding a quiet and distraction free environment, and/or engaging in a mindfulness-meditation practice.
- Mark the destination – Where do you want to go? What is the outcome you are working towards? A centered state of being allows us to identify and set a destination. Working on an assignment is different from writing a 500 word first draft. Once we get specific and know our destination, we can start to find paths that can get us there.
- Connect with your purpose – Why are you taking this journey? Remembering and articulating (and perhaps even writing down) why we are working towards a particular outcome can help us prioritize and make better decisions. Oftentimes current tasks and projects are part of a larger overarching goal. Consider asking yourself: How are my current priorities aligned with my long term goals and aspirations? For example, reminding yourself that mastering a certain topic or concept is essential to a stronger graduate school application can make finding time to study easier.
Identifying if we’re going to JFK to catch a flight instead of Brooklyn to spend a weekend with friends can make it easier to choose a mode of transportation. Centering ourselves, identifying our destination and connecting with our purpose is a process to get more clarity and live more intentionally.