Lately, I’ve been thinking about what it means to live with intention. Often, intentional living is talked about in terms of striving to be better, improving, mastering this thing we call life. If you’re not getting better, you’re getting worse. But I find the the constant push toward self-improvement to be exhausting, even hollow.

For me, living intentionally isn’t about pushing. It’s about pausing. It’s about settling into myself, connecting with what brings me joy, what excites me, what makes me feel most alive.

A while back, I spent some time reflecting on how I was spending my days. I wanted to shape my life around the things that matter most ~ the things that make me glad to get up in the morning. Out of that reflection came a few meaningful choices, like completing a spiritual direction apprenticeship program, letting go of some roles that no longer fit, and spending more time in creativity and collaboration.

I don’t have it all figured out. I’m still learning, still listening. I do feel, though, that my life is more aligned with my values and that my days, on the whole, energize me rather than drain me.

Buddhist teacher Phillip Moffitt describes intention as “…a path or practice that is focused on how you are being in the present moment.” He asks, “What would it be like if you didn’t measure the success of your life by what you get and don’t get, but gave equal or greater priority to how aligned you are with your deepest values?”

This perspective counters the cultural pressure to strive, achieve, and always ask “what’s next?” Intention calls me back to now. It asks less about what I hope to accomplish and more about how I want inhabit this one wild and precious life. Living intentionally is less about productivity and more about presence. It’s less about fixing ourselves and more about befriending ourselves. Dawn Markova captures it beautifully in her poem I Will Not Die an Unlived Life when she writes,

“I choose to inhabit my days,
to allow my living to open me,
to make me less afraid,
more accessible…”

Her words remind me that intentional living is a practice, not a destination. It’s about showing up fully for each moment. For me, that presence depends on quiet and a chance to slow down, notice, and reflect.

Quiet can be hard to come by in our busy, noisy world. There is always something demanding our attention and it’s easy to feel pulled in many directions at once. Yet I’ve discovered that it is essential for living intentionally. When I carve out moments of stillness, I reconnect with my values, notice what truly matters, and listen to the small inner voice that guides me. Even brief pauses ~ a walk, a few deep breaths, or a quiet cup of tea ~ help me return to myself and live with more clarity and purpose.

I’m still finding my way. For me, living with intention is returning again and again to what feels true. It’s about creating enough quiet to listen deeply….. and enough courage to follow where that listening leads.

What does living intentionally mean to you?
Where in your life do you feel the pull toward deeper alignment with who you already are?

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Kristabeth Atwood is a spiritual director and celebrant who creates spaces for reflection, connection, and meaning in life’s transitions. You can reach out to learn more or schedule a free 45-minute intro session with Kristabeth.