Congratulations, it’s another New Year with 365 new days and new opportunities. The question is: “What are you going to do with them?”
For example, should you focus your energy on living one day at a time, or build a life plan to help guide your journey forward? Do you concentrate on listening for and discerning God’s will, or keep taking steps that seem to be taking you in the right direction?
A good answer for each of those four choices—in fact, for all of them— is, “Yes.”
Because you can have a happy New Year, perhaps your best year ever, by living more intentionally.
Living More Intentionally is a Journey
Every blog article I write is somewhat personal, but this one was especially meaningful in some special ways. That’s because when I lived through the story below, this wasn’t a theoretical discussion or a theological exercise for me; it was real life!
I had been in the business world for over 37 years but was moving toward a major life change into full-time ministry. During that process, I wrestled with a number of questions including:
- How do I balance being intentional with waiting to discern the direction God wanted me to go?
- Had I been given enough guidance already to move forward, or should I seek more input?
- Do I trust the life plan I had been using to guide me or continue to rethink my future?
I had a life plan and had spent a lot of time thinking about the future. Frankly, I would not have been in position to consider a move as drastic as leaving a life-long career to move into ministry if that were not the case, because making a big life change involves many factors.
In the middle of that process, my younger son gave me a couple of books as presents. He knew I was doing a lot of thinking about living more intentionally, and he had thoughtfully picked books he thought I would enjoy.
I started reading one of them, and I finished it quickly. Because I couldn’t put it down!
The book was titled Be You. Do Good: Having the Guts to Pursue What Makes You Come Alive by Jonathan David Golden. This is a great book for anyone trying to discern their calling, find purpose, or make a life change. And for anyone interested in living more intentionally.
The material teaches us to be who we are, use what we have, and pursue what makes us come alive. And that sometimes we need to make a life-changing decision and not look back, while at other times it’s better to move forward by growing little by little.
All great advice for living more intentionally.
“Every person’s journey toward their calling is different. It’s about you taking the next faithful step in the direction the One who’s calling you is leading.” (Be You. Be Good. by Jonathan David Golden)
Living More Intentionally Requires Balance
But how does all this apply to you?
That depends. Without thinking about it, many people spend more time planning their vacations than planning their lives. They allow tasks that are urgent, rather than important, to dominate their weekly calendar. Each morning, they jump into the to-do’s of the day before taking a little time to get centered. Or they rush through their busy activities without appreciating that life is lived a moment at a time.
Does any of that sound familiar?
If it does, relax. You don’t have to change your life today. But you owe it to yourself and those you care about to do some thinking as you head into the New Year. To make a conscious decision to live more intentionally, one step at a time.
Because to help ensure you are moving in the right direction, you need a road map, and building a plan can help you chart your journey and stay on track. Then, you take it a day at a time, focus on progress and not perfection, and keep taking the next right steps.
Here are 5 guidelines to help you achieve the right balance in your approach:
- Decide that living more intentionally is important – Life is a journey, and your job is to seek the right direction using God as your guide. Look for your role in God’s larger story and identify a set of Values to guide you and a Vision for your life to inspire your efforts.
- Build a life plan and update it each year – Take a few hours—or just 60 minutes—each year to build or update your Life Plan. In that process, clarify and prioritize the Objectives or life improvement areas to focus on to give you more direction over the next 12 months.
- Plan your calendar wisely each week – Starting first by looking at your Life Plan, determine what Commitments you will make and schedule time for them during the week. Include first the areas that are most important in your life, even if they are not urgent.
- Hold a quiet time each day – Schedule a daily Quiet Time to stay in touch with God, pray, and listen for his input. Meditate on important parts of your life and seek to discern how you can follow God’s will in those areas and keep your eyes open for where he leads you today.
- Live in the moment – As you move through the day, keep your eyes open for treasures (small blessings), epiphanies (new ideas), victories (over weaknesses), and miracles (divine intervention) and enjoy them. Pause to make good choices and keep taking the next right steps.
You can have a better New Year than you would have otherwise by living more intentionally.
You don’t have to change your life today, just keep moving in the right direction one step at a time. You don’t have to be perfect, just give it your best shot, allow yourself some grace along the way, and enjoy the journey. Learn to live life better by taking the next right steps.
But for this approach to living more intentionally to make a difference in your life, there is a critical step you must take: the next one!
“Life is a journey. Seek the right direction using God as your guide. Make wise choices and take the next right step.” (STEPS Principles as taken from “The Meaning of the Journey”)
Question: Which of the five guidelines above do you feel will help you the most in living more intentionally?
Action: Calendar 60 minutes this week to go through the process in the article “How to Create a 1-Hour Life Plan” and then use the additional helpful resources in the article “How to Live Intentionally” as appropriate to help you live more intentionally during the year.
