How to live with intention | Meaning, purpose, example

Coined in the 1940s, intentional living unites a community of like-minded individuals with a common goal. It’s a way of life that’s open to anyone who’s seeking more fulfilment, and learning to live with intention can change your life for the better.

“My morning routine has had the biggest shift over the years. It has been jam-packed with check-ins, journaling, reading, writing, courses and workouts. Now, I’ve realised that a creative activity and a steaming cup of coffee are all I need.”

Suffering from burnout myself is the reason I started to live with intention. You might recall the health of the workforce in the headlines of news reports and social media posts during the pandemic. Research conducted in 2021 found that nearly half of UK workers felt more prone to extreme stress and more than half of US workers were suffering from burnout. These statistics suggest that I wasn’t alone.

In 2021, I caught myself asking questions about my life. “Who am I doing this for?” It wasn’t me. “Why am I doing this?” Honestly, I thought I had to. It wasn’t until I read The Magic by Rhonda Byrne that I changed my narrative. The amount of pressure I was putting on myself to achieve according to societal expectations was astronomical. Ironically, when I took my foot off the pedal and started practising gratitude and living intentionally, everything worked itself out perfectly.

Have you questioned what pleases you in life? Our consumerist society can convince us that the house on the best estate, brimming with trending furniture pieces and hauls of branded items is what we want. Or in my case, as a woman trying to establish a career in London, the notion that I should be “hustling”. Of course, living by these directions will make some people happy. But will they make you happy?

What does it mean to live with intention?

To live with intention means living by your purpose, beliefs and values. It can give you greater fulfilment and satisfaction from life, and looks different for everyone. For instance, I value simple living. On a Sunday afternoon, I might consciously choose to read a magazine on the sofa from cover to cover, instead of trawling the internet to find content to consume. It brings me happiness to do things the old-fashioned way.

Of course, as a woman living in 21st-century Britain, I have a job, an iPhone and a website, to name a few mod-cons. Right now, I’m drinking coffee from a mug that says “pug-aroni pizza” on it, which I don’t believe is in any history book. But that’s just it – there are no rules with intentional living. As long as your daily rituals feel authentic to you, you’re living intentionally.

Finding your true purpose in life

Finding your true purpose, beliefs and values requires taking a regular inventory of yourself. While my purpose has remained the same, my beliefs and values have evolved over time. Adventure was proudly at the top of my list when I boarded the flight for a summer in America in 2022. Now, as I sit in the living room of my first owned home filled with vintage furniture, adventure is further down the pecking order. It’s still a value of mine and always will be, but I choose to seek adventure closer to home as that feels in alignment right now.

Do you know what your purpose, beliefs and values are? If you don’t, I highly recommend the Deluxe Law of Attraction 12-Month Planner by Freedom Mastery. It contains pages of written activities to help you discover your purpose and empowers you to regularly review your goals and whether you’re living in alignment with who you are. I’ve bought one of these planners for the last three years and wouldn’t be without one.

Overcoming fear

I recognise that learning the truth about how to live with intention can be confronting – I’ve been there. Digging deep and working out what truly brings you happiness can shine a harsh spotlight on every part of your reality. Perhaps you landed your dream job, but you’ve since realised that it doesn’t align with your present circumstances. Or, it could be that you don’t know what you like in a certain area of your life. I recently had an identity crisis because I couldn’t differentiate who I was between the clothes I was wearing. Now, after reading Style Therapy: 30 Days to Your Signature Style by Lauren Messiah, I truly understand what my style is and waste less money on buying clothes sporadically.

The point is that I still unearth new questions within myself on my intentional living journey. It’s not linear. In addition, building conscious rituals into your life can be trial and error, so I strongly advise you to throw perfectionism in the bin. My morning routine has had the biggest shift over the years. It has been jam-packed with check-ins, journaling, reading, writing, courses and workouts. Now, I’ve realised that a creative activity and a steaming cup of coffee are all I need. Remember, if a ritual causes you to feel overwhelmed or unhappy, you can simply change it to something more intentional.

What is an example of intentional living?

As someone who values simple living, turning breakfast into an intentional ritual could look like this:

You open the back door to let the morning air whirl in, before putting on your apron to protect your favourite dress. The breakfast ritual begins by boiling the kettle on the stove because you like the whistling sound of the stove-top kettle. You pour freshly brewed tea from the china teapot into your cup, which is resting on a matching saucer. You prepare a homemade bowl of hearty porridge with fruit from the greengrocer and milk from the milkman, delivered that morning. Once breakfast is ready, you eat it at the table, which you pre-set with placemats, cutlery, a jug of fresh fruit juice and a burning candle. You eat your breakfast at the table without the distraction of social media or the TV. Once finished, you carefully wash the dishes by hand and end the ritual by cleaning the table and kitchen surfaces with a seasonal scent of non-toxic anti-bac. Feeling fulfilled, you hang up your apron.

This is a dialled-up version of how I live with intention. I will admit, it’s not possible every morning – especially when I’m commuting to the office at 6.30 AM. Plus, I’m still in the market for a stove-top kettle! But switching breakfast from a grab-and-go situation to a simple ritual can improve my day substantially. That’s why I choose to spend the extra 20 minutes to make it happen, when I can.

How are you choosing to live?

Truthfully, deciding how to live is a deeply personal choice, regardless of whether you live intentionally or not. I have spoken about simple living, but intentional living can focus on sustainability, minimalism, community or religion, depending on your purpose, beliefs and values. Whatever your path, making meaningful choices about how you want to live in a world of societal influence, distraction and external pressure can lead to greater authenticity, fulfilment and joy. What have you got to lose?

I would love to hear how you’re practising intentional living in the comments or by contacting me.

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