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.