At the start of a new year, I always take time to think about what is most important to me.  My hopes and dreams and wonderful new experiences I would like to enjoy with my family. This year I also reviewed resolutions made in the past and noticed a recurring theme. The intention to make sure that no matter where I am, or what I am doing, to try my absolute best to MAKE EVERY MOMENT COUNT.  To make a difference in the lives of the people I love and care about.  Whether at home, work or wherever my life’s journey takes me, to try to bring goodness to everything I do.  I have come to realize that its actually much easier to stay “busy” keeping up with a busy schedule than it is to be intentional about carving time out of the day to do things that bring greater joy.

Here are a few steps that I have taken to be
more intentional:

• Finding new sources of inspiration.  The life of St. Therese of Lisieux continues to enrich my own.  I am enjoying the book “The Way of Trust and Love” a Retreat guided by St. Therese by Jacques Phillippe. Fr. Philippe shared these writings as a retreat and at the request of participants, wrote it as a wonderful book.
  I may never get to France to enjoy this retreat in person, but I can certainly read the same wonderful writings.Also rising earlier in the day to spend a few quiet minutes reading Scripture.
• Volunteerism:  Finding small ways to contribute a little bit of time to the church brings a lot of happiness, especially to the people I am helping.
• Reading about people who changed our world for the better: learning about how they accomplished so many great things in the face of great adversity.  Here are some great books I recommend to learn about being intentional with your life’s purpose:
  • Lincoln on Leadership (Don Phillips)
  • A Million Miles in 1000 Years (Don Miller)
  • Capturing Grace (Jeremiah)
  • Thrive (Arianna Huffington)
  • Quiet (Susan Cain)
  • The Leader with no title/the Monk who sold his Ferrari (Robin Sharma)
• Figuring out ways I can do less – but be better:  Intentionally creating more white space in my day to think and breathe.  Basically asking myself, which problems do I want to have and where do I absolutely want to go big?  Adopting more of a “I choose to” vs. “I have to” mindset.Essentialism by Greg McKeown is a great book about how to be more discerning when it comes to your time.