Have you ever driven somewhere, arrived, and realized you remember nothing about the journey? This is the best way to describe what it feels like to live life on autopilot: disconnected and detached from the present moment. I am here to share with you the antidote to autopilot living: the magic of intentionality.
There are many ways to describe the concept of intentionality, but for me, to go about your days with intention means to make the conscious choice to act with awareness, purpose, and presence. To be intentional is to be present, to be fully engaged in the activity that you are doing, the conversation that you are having, the food that you are savoring, the melody that you are listening to, the thoughts that you are creating, and overall, the way that you are showing up in the world. To be intentional means that you are an active creator of your reality, not just a passive agent, disconnected and disengaged.
As you continue to scroll through my words, you will better understand why living with intention matters and the profound effect it can have on your mental and emotional health. You will see how it can help you gain more clarity, joy, and a sense of meaning. Hence, the reason why I call it an “antidote.” It is as powerful as it sounds, I promise.
Why does living with intention matter?
Moving through life from a space of awareness helps reduce anxiety, because you are not consumed by your thoughts, you are fully present and engaged with your actions. It can also help with decision fatigue, because you are making choices that feel in alignment with who you are at your core, not based on society’s expectations or pressures. Lastly, it can ease the feelings of emptiness that sometimes arise as a result of multitasking through life, rushing from one task to another, and planning tomorrow before today is even over.
Presence, on the other hand, creates space for joy, gratitude, and meaning. Going back to my example of arriving at your destination not really knowing how you got there, can you think of a time when you were with your closest friends, sharing memories and funny stories from your past, laughing so hard that tears of joy were running down your cheeks, and you forgot about everything else? For that moment, you were just there. You were fully present with your entire being. That is what it means to embody presence, and it feels absolutely incredible. You feel full of life.
The 3 Pillars of Intentional Living
So, what is this idea all about? I want to invite you to think about living with intentionality as a practice, a consistent practice that has nothing to do with perfection. I would like to offer you what I consider to be the three pillars of this magical practice:
Clarity – To have a clear idea of your values and your priorities. When you do not know these, or who you are, you will continue to move through life on autopilot. You may feel lost, powerless, or bored with life, because when we do not feel like the creative agents that we are, it is easy to feel disempowered and hopeless. Clarity brings about assertive decision-making. It makes it invigorating to show up as you.
Choice – To live with intention, all you have to do is align your actions with those values. This is where the expansion takes place. You start moving from a space of conscious awareness.
Consistency – This is my personal favorite. Consistency is the key to bringing about real, sustainable change. We resist it at times, but it is the sweetest medicine when looked at through a lens of embodied love. “I love me so much that I am choosing to continue learning to practice gratitude every morning, instead of succumbing to negative self-talk.” Consistency is about creating rituals that support those choices we talk about in pillar #2.
Simple Practices for Cultivating Presence and Purpose
Now, how can you incorporate this into your day-to-day life? I got you. Here are some simple practices for cultivating presence and purpose starting today:
- Morning intention setting: Every morning, before grabbing your phone or answering work emails, ask yourself: “How do I want to feel today, and what actions and thoughts will support that?”
- Phone-free breakfast: Be fully present with yourself or your loved ones. Savor and enjoy the food that fuels your body. Recharge through connection with others over a shared meal, or embrace some peace and self-care time before the day’s responsibilities.
- Deep listening: When talking with a friend or loved one, put away distractions and give your full attention. Similarly, say no gracefully when something does not align with your energy, so you can show up more fully where you truly want to be.
- Single-tasking: Give one project your complete focus instead of multitasking. Prioritize values, not urgency, and tackle tasks that align with your vision instead of just reacting to emails and notifications.
- Value-based purchases: Choose purchases that align with your values (supporting local businesses, sustainable, meaningful items) instead of impulse buys influenced by social media and “you need this!” pressure.
- Digital presence: Curate what you consume online so it inspires, educates, or uplifts instead of draining you.
- Check in with your breath: Our breath tends to be our biggest indicator of awareness. Is it shallow? Are you barely breathing because of how fast you are moving? Or is it deep, intentional, and full of energy?
Final Thoughts
My invitation is for you to try this. Allow yourself to shift from the go-go-go energy to embodying presence and intentionality in everything you do. Notice, do you feel more grounded? Fulfilled? Less stressed and burned out? Remember that intentionality is not about control or perfection, it is about choosing conscious presence over autopilot.
When we live with intention, every small act becomes a step toward the life we truly desire.