To start with, what does it mean to live intentionally, in your opinion?
Before I delve deeply into the subject of deliberation, I would like to walk you through two case scenarios, and I need your honest thoughts on who you think is living more intentionally and why.
Here you go:
Case Scenario A:
“Mr A joins Writers Space Africa (WSA) Academy because he feels inspired amidst other writers and hopes to write a book someday.”
Case Scenario B:
“Mr B joins WSA Academy to write a world-class, best-selling book before he clocks 28.
These case scenarios lead me to the question, what is intentional living?
Please permit me to use my story to drive home my point. You can also share your story.
Growing up, I wanted to become a businessman. I didn’t know what was required of me to become one. It was my childhood dream. Before I gained admission into the university, my course of study (Estate Management) was influenced by my uncle in Abuja, who was doing well financially at the time I made this decision. I got admitted, and I was doing fine academically. Life felt like all I needed was a degree and outstanding grades, and I was on the path to becoming financially stable like my uncle. Well, upon graduation, reality set in. During my National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), I was lucky enough to serve at my uncle’s place of work in Abuja. During this period, I discovered that I wasn’t enjoying my work. It felt forced. After my NYSC, I returned to Lagos State, where I worked with a firm for almost a year. And as predicted, I didn’t enjoy it too, and I resigned.
What can you deduce from my story?
Well, it turned out I have been living on autopilot. I have been living someone else’s dreams and life and not mine.
Read – Mindfulness: The Art of Breathing in and Out by Lise Nova Berwadushime, Rwanda
What is Intentional Living?
According to Meche’tte, “intentional living is about commanding your day.” Intentional living is your WHY – your purpose of living. You examine this by asking yourself, “why do you do what you do?” If you are happy with your answers, you’re living intentionally.
You may have to ask yourself questions like;
– Why did I choose my career/job?
– Why am I where I am at the moment?
– Why are my friends, my friends?
– Why have I chosen my partner?
– Why do I sleep early/late and wake up early/late?
– Why am I living?
How does your answer make you feel? Happy? Sad? Confusing? Conflicting? It’s worth pondering over.
Read – Sentence Complexity in Creative Writing by Francis Mkwapatira, Malawi
Intentional living means you closely scrutinise the choices you make in life, and if you’re not happy with them, you make changes appropriately. From the story I shared with you, I had to deliberately change my career path and start doing what I love PURPOSIVELY, DELIBERATELY, AND INTENTIONALLY.
Intentional living doesn’t mean you have everything figured out. No one does. It’s indeed a work in progress – a continuous process. It just means you have a purpose behind your actions. Do you know what happens when the purpose of a thing is unknown? It’s okay if you make a mistake. Isn’t that how we learn? However, intentional living means the lessons you learn serve a purpose.
It’s also noteworthy that you can be intentional about your paths without knowing your final destination. It’s like you are choosing to experiment with your life, and that’s a challenging route! Nonetheless, you have to summon the courage to shift from where you are unless nothing is going to change.
I came across a quote on a police station’s wall last year. It read: “great talents are lost in this world for want of a little courage.” Guess what? That quote has stayed with me ever since then.
Read – Poems That Yarn by Isaac “Gate” Kilibwa (Kenya)
Why Intentional Living?
Intentional living will distinguish you from people who are merely existing. It gives you a sense of direction. From this, you make the best out of life and leave a legacy behind.
How to Live Intentionally
– Identify your core values. What are yours? If you don’t know, think of moments when you have felt proud of yourself or happy and think of what made it happen. Your core values are vital in choosing your path. Our core values differ. You need to know yours and reflect on them daily so they can influence your purpose and guide your choices.
– Be willing and ready to embrace responsibility. You need to be prepared to make some hard choices. You can’t afford to live an ordinary life when you are destined to live an extraordinary life of greatness.
– Be a solution provider and a person of value. Which problem is your life-solving at the moment? To be/stay relevant in the world, you need to solve a problem.
– Make small, constant decisions. Are you like Mr B, who wishes to author a book before 28? Intentional living is about deciding every blessed day to reach your goal. A way to achieve this is by setting SMART goals. In the long run, consistency and determination matter the most! So don’t be afraid to start small. Note: you become an expert writer by writing and learning every day, not by just joining the WSA academy.
Read – Structured Poetry: Villanelle by Chipo Chama (Zambia)
Conclusion
Remember, intentional living is about being honest and doing what feels good for you. So, never compare yourself with anyone (the mistake I made growing up). You have TO BE YOU TO DO YOU. There are no right or wrong answers. Stop judging yourself against the societal standard for success and create your standard, schedule, and success. Henceforth, All I want to see are intentional people determined to live a different and outstanding/extraordinary life. I want to see purposeful people not living on autopilot and merely existing. I will be here, rooting for you.
References
https://www.simplyfiercely.com/an-intro-to-intentional-living/
https://psychcentral.com/health/intentional-living#whats-intentional-living
Funminiyi Akinrinade, fondly called Esv_Keks, is a Nigerian realtor and writer with works appearing in Olney Magazine, The Global Youth Review, Writers Space Africa Magazine, Mag 20/20, Praxis Magazine, Word Rhymes and Rhythm (WRR) Anthology, and elsewhere.
He’s the initiator of two poetry collections: Si(gh)lent Night, a night of sighs and wanders (2017) and 60 Seconds Silence (2020).
