An Intentional New Year
Today, a New Year begins. All the unloved days and months lay ahead. We have options. We have choices to make, small scale and great. The potential looms exciting and frightening in its magnitude. And the foundation for doing the New Year well is intention. For "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail."
If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
Life loves to fill a vacuum. So when we exist on autopilot, sleep, eat, produce, rinse, repeat, we're likely to feel uninspired. You might ask yourself, “What's the point? Where's the excitement, the thrill, the hope I had when I was young?”
For many, it's okay to live this way. To assume you are the victim of life, the system, and your particular circumstances. Who could argue that some of this may even be true? But true or false, it's a mindset that doesn't allow for growth, so why settle?
Enter intentional living—a simple concept that can be challenging to implement and maintain. I've compiled a short list of ideas to get us started on the right foot.
1. You get what you live.
When we coast on autopilot—particularly seductive when we've "made it," i.e., got the car, the house, the appropriate spouse—the energy that charges the attitude is a match.
Think of it like an appliance unplugged versus plugged into the outlet. In the first scenario, all the components are there except electricity. With the plug left to dangle over the floor, nothing happens. But plug it in, and Bam! You get what you anticipated: a piece of perfectly browned toast, a bag of fluffy popped popcorn with an unrivaled buttery scent, or a 375º wand to flat iron your hair into the perfect do.
When you repeat your choices, movements, and thoughts, you match that power, and the result becomes a given. Beware of ruts. They may bring a sense of safety, which inarguably has its place, but they lack zing, which can quickly make life's flavor very bland.
2. YOU 🫵 have to bring the happy.
Life is terrific at bringing growth experiences, which has a lot of merit. The problem is, they don't tend to feel so great. These moments leave us in tears, bemoaning the gods and asking, "Why?" The death of a loved one, an environmental disaster that sweeps our worldly possessions away, or discovering the betrayal of your spouse.
I wish I had a line item to help avoid painful experiences. I can't because there isn't one. Life hurts. It's unavoidable. But we don't have to allow pain to become suffering if we remember the "happy" is in our hands. Even when the worst has occurred (maybe especially), it's our responsibility to bring the buffer, the compassion, and eventually, the joy of living. It's a process that starts with intention first and implementation next.
3. Gratitude is the doorway.
I've mentioned gratitude in previous blogs like "This Holiday Season, Presence is Your Present," and I haven't changed my mind about its positive impact. I've endured many shit days, more than seem necessary, so I recognize the challenge of finding bits of goodness in the quagmire or grossness. But I guarantee they are there. Pick a time every day - as your feet hit the floor, before your lids close to slumber - and list three things to be grateful for. You don't have to think big. Being surrounded by fresh air is something we take for granted, yet we couldn't survive without it. You have been gifted a brain capable of gratitude. Perhaps you got a compliment on your new dress, or the boss gave you a raise. You're healthy. Your dog loves you. You found a new review on one of your books on Amazon.
The list is endless, and the key is to feel it. Don't simply list; feel, like a warm glow in your chest or a smile spreading across your face. I'd compare the feeling to when you made your first art project just for Mom. She expressed joy when she received it before hanging it on the refrigerator or placing it in a special spot where everyone could see it. That's the feeling. Intentional appreciation invites more into our experience to appreciate.
Life will knock you down, but you have to pick yourself back up. Gather the necessary supplies so you're well prepared: Living with intention, bringing happiness, and practicing gratitude are three simple and effective ways to get you started in the new year.
