Live Intentionally

I hate when water gets into your house where it’s not supposed to be. Water is meant to be in the sink or the tub… not all over your basement floor, definitely not inches deep on your carpet. A few years ago, our region had a lot of rainfall. So much so, it started backing up in areas, and you can guess what happened next. It leaked through our cinder block into our nicely finished basement. What a mess. The ceiling and wall went from “drywall” to water soaked mush falling into puddles on the carpeting.

With painstaking effort, we had to pull up the carpeting, throw away water soaked things, dry everything out, and make repairs. We had to redo the outside drain area, put up the new wall and ceiling, and prime for painting. With the help of friends and family, it took us weeks and a lot of sore muscles to get to that point.

Fast forward a few years, and the wall is still waiting for that final coat of paint. I need to match the color with the rest of the basement and paint. Obviously, it just hasn’t been a priority for me. I keep intending to get it done. I want it done, but it’s in the basement, out of sight and out of mind, and it gets forgotten. A few days turned into a week which turned into a few months, and now it’s been a few years. I do intend to finish that wall someday …. Martin Luther once said, “how soon ‘not now’ becomes never.”

This is just a wall in the basement of our home. In the great scheme of things, it is not that important. But how often do my good intentions never quite come to fruition in things that matter most like my relationships, my business plan, or in my spiritual life? Where in my life am I letting good intentions linger unfulfilled? How often do I declare I am going to do something at the start of the year, make a promise to my spouse, or even to myself, only to let it dwindle and be forgotten?

Good intentions left uncharged are useless. Like a smart phone, they are full of potential, but only if it is charged and action is taken. How many houses have unused treadmills? Who is still looking for that new opportunity or initiative to come through that was promised at work? How many kids are still waiting for mom or dad to get to “later” to shoot a few hoops? Empty promises help no one, and in the things that matter most, good intentions left unfulfilled not only hold you back, they can hurt you or the others you influence.

In last week’s post, I asked you to start to identify 3-5 of your personal values and to think about how to live those out in what matters most to you. If you didn’t have a chance to read that post, you can do so here to read What Matters Most. I want us to be intentional and focus on what matters.

We all have those moments where we respond to a request, come up with an idea to try, or say we want to do something, and think we will do it. But then it gets put on the back burner, or we get busy and sidetracked, and it gets lost. We intend to do it, but never get around to it. John C Maxell says “Intentional living is the bridge that will lead you to a life that matters. Good intentions won’t get you there.”

Intention is great, but intention alone doesn’t get things done. It doesn’t help you go deeper or move forward. It doesn’t help you grow and develop your potential. It won’t build relationships or help you achieve your dreams. Good intentions quickly become like empty ghost towns, places where hopes and dreams have withered away. Good intentions that align with our values and what matters most need to be acted on.

If you are hoping to become a stronger leader, a more connected parent, or a better spouse, that is great. But if no action is ever applied to that good intention, nothing changes. You have far greater potential than you have ever realized. You have the ability to make a difference in the lives of others and the world around you. But if you don’t take action, today is as far as you will get. You were meant for more and to pursue your dreams. Live out your best story.

Let’s get off the “good intention” merry-go-round that goes nowhere and let’s move from good intentions to being intentional about the things we value and matter most to us. The wall in my basement won’t get painted today, but I did take another step toward my making my dreams come true, and my family knows that the rest of today is all about them. It’s time for some laughter and play.

Reflect: Take some time and think through what you value? What matters most to you today? Who or what is a priority for you? Think about where you have some good intentions that remain unfulfilled? Evaluate those intentions. Which one’s line up with what you value and what matters most to you?

Action Step: Look at your list of unfulfilled intentions that align with your values and what matters most to you. Find one or two that you want to be your priority this week. Be careful with your choices. Dream and plan in alignment with your values and the things that matter most. What action can you take this week to move from good intention to living intentionally? Just take one small step toward making that happen, and once you have accomplished that step, take another.

Real Life Examples: A friend shared with me how she values reading to her children, but by the third child it seemed to have gone by the wayside. Rather than just letting this value disappear, she is choosing to be intentional and has a plan for reading with her daughter each night at bedtime.

A business owner noticed a drop in employee morale, despite his intention of building into his employees not much has happened this past year in that regard. Instead of just talking about it, he is being intentional, and we have started a weekly mastermind with his team around personal growth.

Feel free to share in the comments how you are going to be intentional this week.