It’s important to live an intentional life. And it’s important to live a life with purpose, meaning, and a reason to get out of bed each day. But none of these things have to be huge, nor take a lifetime to achieve. In fact, I think it’s better if they are purposely and intentionally small. Because that makes them achievable rather than being overwhelming, seemingly out of reach, and only achieved by other, more fortunate, brighter, richer, more special people. And small, consistent ripples all add up to make large, life-changing waves, that touch the lives of many, not just our own.
And that’s where I think the narrative has gone a bit wrong.
There is a whole world out telling us that we need to do all manner of things, go on all manner of courses, and live our lives in a certain way, with lots of routines, discipline, and ultimately, outside instruction in order to find our purpose and live with intent – ironically a whole world of people all living their lives in order to tell others how to find meaning, as if by doing so they are living theirs, when in fact it is this narrative, this instruction which often makes people feel inadequate, overwhelmed and ill-equipped to even find, never mind live, deep and meaningful lives, because they have been seduced into outsourcing this to someone else, who cannot possibly have the answer, as it can only be found within ourselves and does not have a man-made price tag.
I find that ironic and really quite sad.
But here’s the thing, I believe that we can all live intentionally and with deep and meaningful purpose every single day if we just create the space to listen to and trust ourselves. Intentions can be small and effective, my intentions today are simply to go for a walk and do one kind thing, for one person.
Purpose can be simple and meaningful, my purpose today is simply to write this post in the hope it inspires someone to trust themselves a little more, not respond to a challenging situation until I have more clarity and less anger, and read one thing that helps my mind to grow a little more and to show up as fully and openly as I’m able given where I am today, to all that the world has to offer.
Now, none of these sounds particularly life-changing based on the narrative we hear around intent and purpose, but they sure as hell make my life a little better every day and as a result, others too.
Because if we are at peace with ourselves, it allows others to feel peace too.
If we give ourselves permission to define our own intent and purpose, it gives others permission too.
And if we celebrate the small things as the big things that they really are, it shows others how they can do so too.
So on this basis, I think you are much more purposeful and intentional than you realise and I think you are changing the world much more than you know.
You just need to recognise that you are doing so.
