Daily Intentions
July

 
 
 

‘I just go where my heart tells me,
where my gut tells me to go,
where I’m enjoying my life the most,
where I feel like I can have the most success’

Danica Patrick

 
 
 

I improve the moment
Take a brief period of time – perhaps five minutes, perhaps an hour – to relieve yourself of your responsibilities, of your workload, and of your regular tasks. Nurture yourself and slow down. Maybe it is the time you need for prayer or meditation, or may it is a real ‘micro-vacation’, a complete time-out to do whatever it is that will make you happiest. It is important to set some boundaries around this. You do not want to ‘ acation’ for so long that you do not move forward and return to your day, and you do not want to disassociate from the reality of your day.

 

I build positive experiences
Many of your best memories are from times when you set out deliberately, with intention, to do something positive and different – something memorable. To have those positive experiences that lead to warm-and-fuzzy memories, you have to build them yourself rather than wait for them to fall into your lap. Pick up the phone and make plans, even if you’d rather have that someone was calling you. Take risks, try new things, experiment. Take steps towards building relationships or nurturing the ones already in your life. It means recognizing and appreciating the positive experiences, no matter how small, that slip into your day.

 

I remove judgement
How many times have you used the word “should” today? This week? As in, “I should be doing ____ right now”, or “I should be more attentive”, things like that. You judge yourself all the time, and it frequently becomes so engrained that you don’t even notice it. Remove all judgement. Take away the labels of something or someone being ‘good’ or ‘bad’. It just is. Be conscious of when you are labeling or judging. And here is the important part: do not judge yourself for judging! Instead, recognize that this is what you are doing – acknowledge it – and release it. Accept the moment and your reality.

 

I take a risk
Do one thing a day that scares you. What may this be? Speaking to a stranger? Enrolling in a course you’ve always been interested in, but too afraid to try? Attempting a new hobby or sport? Confessing your true thoughts and feelings? Whatever it is, think of an opportunity to push your comfort zone just a little bit. Notice the feelings that arise in you as you consider the risk that you will tackle. Be conscious and aware of your feelings as you are taking that leap, and how you feel afterwards. Without risk, there is little reward or growth. May you grow a little today!

 

I remember compassion
You can not tell a person’s struggles just by looking at them. Some people are experts at hiding their battles and may be hurting just as much – maybe even more – than those people who show or discuss their emotions with others. Remember compassion. Pray for someone you know – or even someone you don’t. Light a candle with intention for someone else. Have extra patience when you notice yourself feeling short-tempered or impatient with someone else. Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. Just because you don’t see someone bleeding doesn’t mean they aren’t hurting.

 

I am myself
Today, focus on being truly, authentically you. As you go through the day, check in with yourself periodically and ask yourself if you are being honest with yourself and with others. Are you making decisions to please others? Are you doing things out of guilt, shame, or fear of others’ perceptions of you? Are you expressing your true and honest emotions? Make this today’s mantra: I am being true to myself.

 

I renew
Find something that will renew you. A favourite passage you can read to be inspired, to spiritually renew yourself. Pursue something active. Engage in a yoga practice, run alongside the open road, or swim in the sea. Physically renew yourself. Connect with friends, whether old and dear or new and refreshing, to emotionally charge you. Take time for yourself to do something you love. Recharge, reconnect, renew.

 

I start fresh
There is always time to make a fresh start, always. There is time to inhale deeply, to clear your mind, and to steer your thoughts – your energy – your day – in a different direction. There is no reason why a bad past [whether it’s a bad month or just a bad morning] should mean you have a bad present moment, or a bad future. Hit that ‘reset’ button. The past doesn’t matter anymore. Move forward. Remind yourself that you have the power to create and shape your days!

 

I intentionally do a good deed
Do something kind for someone else. Give someone a quarter for a shopping cart. Things like a simple smile make all the difference.Whether big or small, it will be noticed and appreciated. Maybe not immediately, maybe not even this week or this month, but kindness is like a circle and it will come back to you.

 

I give something up
15 Things you should give up to be happy: give up the need to alway be right, give up the need for control, give up on blame, give up your self-defeating self-talk, give up your limiting beliefs, give up complaining, give up the luxury of criticism, give up the need to impress others, give up your resistance to change, give up labels, give up on your fears, give up on your excuses, give up the past, give up attachment and give up living your life to other peoples expectations. Quite a list… select one thing from this list. One item doable. You will find greater serenity, peace, and happiness by giving this thing up.

 

I remove assumptions
To assume is to make an ‘ass’ out of ‘u’ and ‘me’ [helping you both with the spelling as well as indicating the outcome when someone does assume something]. Checkin with yourself regularly and ask yourself when you make an assumption. Remove these assumptions! Ask the other person for clarification if necessary, demand honesty of yourself, and expect it of others. Truly listen to the words you hear, without reading between the lines or attempting to interpret things like body language or tone.

 

I rediscover something
Reflect on the following question: ‘What is something that you used to do for fun, but don’t have time [or make time] for anymore?’ What did you used to do for fun but haven’t looked at in a while. Do you have a passion for travel that you suppress? Do you yearn for golfing getaways, hours spent browsing bookstores, or dance classes? Sometimes we forget what we enjoy. Then, take some time to think about how you can rediscover this. How can you reincorporate it into your life? What might that look like? How might that feel?

 

I look outside myself
Seize an opportunity to do something that puts someone else first. Volunteer. Help someone in need. Give of your time or energy. Reach out to a friend who is struggling. Make a sacrifice that may improve someone else’s day, with seemingly no benefit to you.

 

I notice what is present
It might be harder to notice something, because it’s small, less flashy, or unobtrusive, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not significant. Notice everything, without judgement. Use your five senses and take in the world around you. Don’t focus exclusively on the obvious. Take note of everything. Focus on the facts and what you can really experience in the moment. Don’t jump to conclusions or make assumptions. Focus on what you can see, hear, taste, smell and touch. Notice it all. Be in the moment and be present.

 

I am content
You know that you have everything to be thankful for: a great significant other, a loving family, a pretty good job, and a healthy working body. Still, you keep having this nagging feeling that what you have just isn’t enough. For now, just be content. Be grateful for what you have. Appreciate the little things. And stop comparing yourself to others! Happiness is a choice!

 

I hug someone
It takes little time or energy to hug someone, and yet it has such great rewards. On an emotional level, hugging can create feelings of calm, relaxation, attachment, and can communicate caring – even love. On a physical level, gentle touch [like a hug] can activate the parasympathetic nervous system – lowering heart rate, deepening the breath, causing muscles to relax and stress to diminish. Find someone to hug. When you do hug that person, hug them with intention and really feel the hug.

 

I THINK
THINK – Is what you want to say True, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary or Kind? If not, then don’t speak at all. When you go to speak, THINK first. Ask yourself why you wish to say what is on your lips. Check in on your motivation as well as whether the message is honest, whether it will help someone constructively, if it may give hope or inspiration, if it is important to communicate your message, and if it is kind in spirit. May the things you speak be thoughtful, both in the words you say aloud to others and in the words you speak to yourself in your heart.

 

I remember that all important truths are simple
Everyone gets their lessons in life. Sometimes they take a while to get into your skull and other times one powerful experience makes it all clear once and forever. Yet the most important truths in life are simple. Just some of them:
You can’t change other people [and it is rude to try]. Those who complain the most, accomplish the least. Putting something off makes it instantly harder and scarier. Blame is the favorite pastime of those who dislike responsibility. By default, people think far too much. It is a hundred times more difficult to burn calories than to refrain from consuming them in the first place.

 

I laugh loudly
Laughing out loud is good for your health, an obvious sign of happiness, and contagious and therefore essential practice for cheering up a grumpy group of people. Read a funny book and be sure to laugh out loud when it really does hit the funny spot. Watch a video on Youtube that you think is funny. Watch a funny comedy show. Read comics. Watch a funny movie. Shake jokes with a friend. Whatever you do, don’t just sit there passively but laugh along loudly with all the jokes and funny parts.

 

I love deeply
Unless it is mad, passionate or extraordinary love, it is a waste of your time. There are too many mediocre things in life. Love shouldn’t be one of them. First, you have to love yourself. Be someone you would love. And then love deeply.

 

I stand out from the crowd
Be comfortable with who you are. Have the confidence to be unique and to let your individuality shine. Standing out from the crowd means that you’re not afraid to speak your mind and to avoid following others when doing so results in sameness and conformity. A person who stands out from the crowd may be someone whose appearance is striking in some way, but more often than not, it is about someone who generates admiration and is remembered by others for being someone special.

 

I like people
Remember that it is not your job to get people to like you, it’s your job to like people. Sometimes we find ourselves dreading being around people. And it’s true that people can sometimes have characteristics which aren’t the most pleasant. But it’s also true that people sometimes have wonderful characteristics. And sharing time with others can also be one of the absolutely most rewarding experiences. Everyone [or almost everyone] has some really wonderful characteristics, however hidden they may be on first acquaintance. One way to think about dealing with people is to try to handle the unpleasant aspects, and bring out as much of the pure gold that lies within as possible.

 

I protect my enthusiasm
Protect your enthusiasm from the negativity of others. Negative people. They’re like human black holes which suddenly come out of nowhere and just suck the life out of you. Their negativity ends up just completely draining you and you feel exhausted. Who are the negative people in your life? Once you recognize them, you can protect your enthusiasm from them. Just smile and stay completely detached. Don’t say anything and leave the room if you can. If you can’t, imagine a bright white light surrounding you. Their negativity can’t touch you because you now have a force field protecting you. Stay enthusiastic and focus on your own energy. If you can be higher energy than they are then your energy will most likely start to rub off on those around you instead of the other way around.

 

I let others do it their way
When you get in a cab, you tell the driver where you want to go, not how to get there. And when you feel sick, you tell the doctor what’s wrong with you, not what medicine or treatment you need. When you ask someone to do something for you, let them do it their way. Give the freedom to take chances, to follow own insights, to develop own ideas, to explore roads that may not appear on the map you have in mind, to arrive at solutions you may not have thought of.

 

I own the place
Enter a room or a meeting like you own the place. Confidence is a tricky, tricky little thing. Feeling good about yourself is so easy to put at the will of others when it should only be up to you. Dress for confidence. If you know that you look like a confident, capable person, eventually you’ll start to feel it, too. Perfect your posture. Keep your shoulders back, your spine straight, and your chin high. Walk with purpose, sit up straight and smile! Keep in mind that everyone struggles with confidence now and then.

 

I teach by example
Example has more followers than reason. Albert Einstein said it: ‘Example is not another way to teach, it is the only way to teach.’ If you want others to be honest with you, be honest. If you want others to be kind to you, be kind. And all this goes especially with children. If you want your kids to be patient, be patient. If you want your kids to have a healthy lifestyle, you need to have a healthy lifestyle. If you want your kids to be honest, you need to be honest. The list goes on and on…

 

I keep the main thing the main thing
It’s not always so simple to identify the main thing — or keep it the main thing. With so many aspects of life to balance — work, relationships, the pursuit of personal passions — it’s no wonder that that main thing often gets lost in our lengthy to-do lists and the craziness of daily life. For each of us, there should be a main thing. The thing that fuels you, that motivates you, that keeps you engaged and interested in life. The main thing can be a hobby, a career, a state of mind, a life-long dream, a career path. No matter what your main thing is, strive to keep the main thing, the main thing.

 

I question my prejudices
Seek to understand people instead of grossly generalizing their behavior. You will pleasantly surprised whenever doing so. Maybe you’ll see that what you thought about the other person was wrong and maybe even irrational. Prejudices did not have any basis in objective reality.

 

I am committed to myself
Be committed to yourself and your goals. Put yourself first. You have your job or business, you’re raising a child or children, you’re nurturing a relationship with your significant other, and you’re somehow finding time to clean the house and take care of errands. There’s barely time to breathe, let alone sleep. When you get caught up in the hustle and bustle of daily life, it can be hard to honor your commitment to yourself. Most of the time, you are toward the bottom of my own list. You need to be first on your own list.

 

I welcome the unexpected
‘Welcome the unexpected changes in life. Learn to bend with grace and humility. Grow through it all and never ever forget to take notice of the beauty changes can bring.’ ~Unknown
Opportunities seldom come in neat, predictable packages.

 

I am passionate
‘Strong women get things done. Be passionate. Be courageous. Be your best.’ ~Gabby Giffords

 

 
 
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