What Is An Intentional Lifestyle?
If you're like me, growing up you were told go to school, get good grades, and get a good job. This was the path to success and prosperity. For most of us getting a nice house in the right area and settling down was part of that advice. And for some of us, that is the right path. But what about those of us who know that isn't the right path?
Why Should You Live An Intentional Lifestyle?
If you just did what you were told, like me, you're probably right where you're "supposed" to be. If you're happy then no problem. But if you want something different you probably feel stuck. It can even make you feel like you've been wasting your life.
You see, if we don't plan and design the life we want to live and then actively ensure we're still on the path we created we'll end up on the prescribed path. That's the way the world we live in was designed. To put you on the standard path.
But don't worry. It's never too late to change your path. That was the major driving force for my starting this project! As the old Chinese proverb says, "the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is right now."
How To Live Intentionally
In order to live intentionally, you have to have a plan. You need to know what you want. Without a destination and a plan, you will invariably be guided back to the path everyone else uses.
It means consciously designing your life. And then making decisions daily that make sure you continue on that path. The great thing about this is that you can guide your life to look however you would like. The ideal life I would design may look nothing like the one you would design. But what's amazing is that's ok!
The important thing is that you don't make decisions that influence the shape of your life without understanding how that decision will take you closer or farther from your ideal life. It's this careful planning the creates an intentional lifestyle.
What Does Intentional Living Have To Do With Health?
In our modern world and intentional lifestyle is basically required if you're going to be healthy. Our lives are mostly sedentary. We sit at desks and in cars for long hours. We rarely walk very far and almost never climb.
The food we eat come from a grocery store. Much of it is prepackaged or gathered and processed by someone else. We have almost no connection to where our food comes from. Think about what you had for dinner last night. Do you know where any of the ingredients were sourced? If you do, have you personally been to that location?
I'm not suggesting that you go hunt and gather every scrap of food you eat. What I'm suggesting is that you be aware of this situation and understand your food selection and your movement and fitness practices.
Why You Should Care
Understanding how you fit into the world around you and how you direct yourself toward your ideal life is essential. Especially now. The modern world is changing at a pace that few can keep up with. If you don't create the life you want to live, it's almost certain you will get swept along with everyone else into the standard American life. If that's what you want, great! At least do it consciously though.
What's more, choosing to move more because you know it's a nutrient your body needs is important. Finding ways to eat more whole foods because that's what your body was designed to process is important. Finding work that makes you feel fulfilled is important. And the nutrient that I think is most lacking today, finding a community that makes you feel welcome and connected is important.
All of these nutrients are a major part of being a healthy human. We can survive with shortages in these places, but our health will suffer. Figure out what you truly need to be healthy and steer your life to achieve those things. That's an intentional lifestyle!