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How do you show up each day?

How do we want to show up each and every day?

In order to answer that question, we must live life with intention.

When we live with intentionality, we recognize and honour our values and we cultivate habits that mesh with those values. We have the ability to visualize the day, a moment, etc. We purposefully chose what our days/lives look like. We prioritize what is important and we organize ourselves in a way that allows us to focus on what is important. In prioritizing, we also remove unnecessary clutter, physical, emotional and spiritual. This can present as a minimalist lifestyle or an organized cupboard!

Prioritizing our wellness can have positive effects on all aspects of our lives. To do this, we need to intentionally take time for self-care, for physical activity, for spirituality, for healthy eating, for sleep… Many of us find this particularly challenging because scheduling these activities takes organization, commitment, but also prioritization of the self; something many of us are uncomfortable with. We are important. We matter. And “we” need to be present in order to be there for others as well.

Our conscious attention is an undervalued resource. No matter our status in life, age or emotional state, we can all focus this attention in one place, at one time. Mindfulness is one way in which we can nurture and further develop our conscious attention. Mindfulness is the ability to focus on the present moment in a nonjudgmental manner. It is the ability to focus on what we value, as well as viewing the present moment with open-mindedness and curiosity. Mindfulness is many things, from a breath exercise, to a body scan, to a walking meditation on a trail or in a forest. It does require a certain degree of self-awareness and in order to live with intention, we must be able to live in the present moment with a little hint of preplanning!

The present, though fleeting, is what we have. Our present actions determine our future, and our future represents our hopes, dreams, and goals. Mindfulness, by its very nature, encourages us to live in the present, to accept the moment; we are not shackled by the past or intimidated by the future. The past shapes our current landscape and viewing it constructively allows us to be mindful. Mindfulness encourages us to let go of the past, but it does not tell us to ignore it. Rather, mindfulness is about putting the past into context and growing from it.

What we value matters. It should show up as our daily reality. This is challenging and requires energy and persistence. But without intention, we live on autopilot, in a mindless state. And that is not how we want to show up. Ever. Anywhere.