Do you ever have those days where you wake up in the morning, blink, and then all of the sudden it’s night time and you’re back in bed, tucked in and ready to turn out the light? Yeah, me too. In fact, I’ve had weeks—sometimes I swear even months—where autopilot takes over and I have a hard time remembering what I did the previous week, let alone what I ate for breakfast earlier that day. It’s hard to distinguish one period of time from another, and everything starts to blend together into one mediocre blob. Autopilot happens when we let habit take the wheel. Instead of actively participating in our lives, we let old ways of thinking and doing auto fill our days.
The best way to combat autopilot, or existing out-of-habit, is with intent. When we are mindful about who we want to attract, what we want to manifest and create, and we infuse purpose into even the smallest acts, we begin to live on purpose. And living on purpose feels so damn good. Don’t you agree?
When we are intentional about how we show up in our day-to-day lives, we can’t help but be present. Intention and presence invite big belly laughs, real connection, joy, a sense of purpose, bliss, creativity, mischief (in only the best way, of course), innovation, adventure, and so much more into our worlds. And living in the moment is where the magic happens, baby. There is nothing more precious than fully showing up—mind, body and spirit—for others. Our attention is the most precious gift with can give others, and for that matter, ourselves.
So, how do we set intentions to begin living on purpose? I always start by asking questions and getting curious about where I’ve been, where I am now, and where I want to go. Here is a list of questions I ask myself when I need to ground myself and refocus on living intentionally (try journaling!):
What am I grateful for? (Name 3 things…or more!)
Gratitude changes everything and helps to crush our feelings of scarcity, allowing us to appreciate what we already have and the incredible humans that we surround ourselves with.
What are my core values? (What I really believe in.)
Think of core values as your compass that keeps you moving in the direction of your own true north. Not sure how to figure out your CVs? Check out Rock Your Bliss’s 7 Weeks to Bliss Program to help you create your compass and get intentional about living.
In what areas of my life can I shift habit into ritual?
In the book Yoga Wisdom, a ritual is defined as: an action that we consciously choose to repeat with awareness and intentionality. Rituals create and hold meaning – they help us to appreciate and focus on the richest, most beautiful things in our lives.
What is working for me right now? What isn’t?
When we identify the things in our lives that aren’t adding value or bringing joy into our lives, it can give us insight that will help us to clear our space to make way for things that truly make us happy.
What are my goals? What is the vision for my life in X number of years?
Vision and goals are tools we can use to quantify what we are working towards in our lives. Helpful reminder: As we learn, grow, and evolve, allowing our vision and goals to do the same keeps them fun and exciting rather than restricting and feeling like ‘shoulds’.
What are my three intentions for the month? If looking at an entire month is a little overwhelming, try setting an intention for a week or even a day.
This is a little exercise I picked up on from the badass goal boss, Jacki Carr. If three intentions for the month seems daunting, break it down into smaller periods of time or focus on one or two intentions you would like to focus on.
Cheers to living more mindful, intentional, purposeful lives.
Jenna is a yoga teacher, writer, and brand builder on a mission to fuel her life with purpose and to explore the world. She was raised in Minnesota but considers Colorado her home away from home. Currently, you can find her in Minneapolis, where she is creating the life she has always dreamed of.
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