How You Choose To Show Up Matters
The intention is to be intentional.
Me to my son: "buddy, do you want peanut butter and jelly or turkey and cheese?"
…
Me: "grapes or strawberries?"
…
Me: "water or milk?"
The above was the conversation I had with my 7 yr old regarding his lunch. Let me start by saying we are not a house of endless choices. Sometimes, we live in a very simple "you get what you get" mentality, BUT we offer options when we can and choose to pick our battles according to what works for our family.
My son, at this moment, was trying to eat all his "strong foods" so he could have a "treat food" later. (For those wondering, he chose PB&J grapes and water). But his response and reasoning got me thinking about the action of intentional decision-making and how the result of our decisions significantly impacts the progress we make towards something we are trying to accomplish.
It has never been more apparent than in recent weeks that the act of intention, or being intentional, is powerful. So powerful, the real purpose behind being intentional feels as if it has gotten lost. See, life is full of choices. We all know that. As early as two or three years of age, perhaps we were given a "choice" of what to wear in the morning. School-age: we began getting a "choice" for lunch. Even in educational centers, we have "choice time." As we grow into adulthood and consider moving on to college, the current trend is to get accepted into as many schools as possible, so we have a "choice ." As adults, we are encouraged to choose a political party. Even when life eventually ends, we are encouraged to prepare in advance with a will so we can choose how to distribute what is left behind.
Life's decisions are an endless series of "choices ." Sometimes we make productive choices-sometimes we don't. When it comes to our overall wellness, the choices you make and how you choose to show up either move you forward, deter you; or keep you in a cycle.
Don't get me wrong; I firmly believe that two steps forward and one step back is still one step ahead, but realistically, you're not showing up.
There is a distinct difference between pulling back to reassess and taking aim to propel forward and the harsh reality that you're getting nowhere.
The problem with staying in the repetitive cycle of celebrating mediocrity and justifying lack of progress is that you constantly allow yourself the option of choosing what is not going to get you to where you want to be. There is minimal "intention" to your choice because of the safety net built in the rationale that you have perpetually used to justify your actions (and subsequently lack of progress).
This leads one to question the line between "slow progress is better than no progress" and "inconsistent progress is no progress at all."
Living intentionally is looking, listening, observing what's going on around you, and then deciding what will work best for you, your family, your goals, and the life you are trying to make. It does not require everyone to choose the same path. It is quite the opposite. It does require self-reflection and deliberate decision-making. It requires you to show up for yourself and the life you want to live.
The bottom line is this: if you have something you want to accomplish, you HAVE to intentionally make decisions that are directly in line with the action plan towards your goal. There are many things we cannot control that may hinder how quickly we make progress-life circumstances, emergencies, a worldwide pandemic, and unexpected life circumstances….but the choices you make surrounding what you can control are critical.
So as you Warrior Forward navigate through what is arguably one of the most challenging few years --I encourage you to be intentional about HOW you're spending your time and energy. Is it in line with making a positive and impactful change? Is it in line with your values and goals? Is it in line with your vision and mission?? Is it in line with how you want your life to FEEL?
If it's not, the reason is how your choose to show up.
Take time to evaluate your choices, both big and small, and ensure you do so with intention.
