Many people find themselves floating around or being carried away by the waves of life. This could mean a lack of direction or purpose, but it could also mean chasing things that don’t necessarily contribute to one’s growth. Much of what people want, strive for, and eventually get doesn’t seem to be enough—and a resounding message is drilled into your mind: you are not enough. 

Chasing one temporary form of happiness after the other creates an endless cycle of deep dissatisfaction and unhappiness. But there’s one way to break free from this hamster wheel of despair: intentionality. By carefully choosing what you let into your life, you are purposeful about where each step forward in your journey takes you. This applies to people, material objects, and immaterial things. 

To help you out, here are five steps on living out a more intentional life for your personal development. 

1. Be self-aware

People often use retail therapy as a coping mechanism for something that they are conflicted with emotionally. For others, indulging in cravings by bingeing on food or alcohol helps deal with certain problems. 

Making an effort to be self-aware of one’s misgivings and coping mechanisms will center your focus on why you react in specific ways. Using this knowledge can make you more purposeful about where you spend your money or how you act to deal with emotions.

2. Shift your mindset

Try to live out and believe this phrase: nothing is essential. When the focus shifts to detaching yourself from all material objects, it becomes easier to discern which things are truly important. 

This mindset sounds simple, but it takes years to understand fully. Freeing yourself from the attachment to objects is extraordinarily liberating and can lead to happiness. 

3. Practice saying no

Letting everything into your life is just another way of allowing it to walk all over you. Saying yes to everything robs you of the choice to intentionally choose what to spend your time on. 

A good rule of thumb is that if it isn’t a resounding yes, then it should be a no. If it’s a tentative yes, then it’s still a no. Even if it’s 99% yes, that 1% no must always find a way to make itself heard!

4. Meditate

Centering yourself is crucial to living intentionally. It is essential to quiet your mind and block out the noise and distractions in your life to focus on what matters. 

Meditation need not be a long, winded routine to reap its benefits. A few minutes a day will suffice; what’s important is that you immerse yourself at that moment. Something as simple as focusing on breathing for a few minutes can do wonders for your clarity of mind and concentration. 

Those who have difficulty getting into this exercise can consult a health and wellness coach. 

5. Disconnect from technology

Technology can really consume people if it is not used in moderation. It can rob you of your time and peace of mind. While it isn’t necessary to completely do away with social media’s wonders, it helps to disconnect and break from it every once in a while. 

Try setting time limits for certain apps on your phone, or go completely offline for one day every week. A feeling of freedom will greet you at the other end!

Conclusion

Living an intentional life means living with clarity of mind and purpose. It is learning how to say no to the parts of your life that don’t serve you and intentionally choosing what you do with reason. 

Slowing down a bit and getting to know yourself and your surroundings are key to living life this way. When you approach life with intent, you may find that happiness falls right into your lap!

Deciding to live life more intentionally can be a difficult adjustment, one that needs the aid of a holistic health coach. My name is Meg Parker, and I am an intentional health coach that helps people harness their inner champion for their own personal development. Get in touch today to see how you can recover from a lifestyle of stress and fatigue!