Have you ever wondered if you were going about life in the most effective way?
Because you can take steps to improve your quality of living, starting today. How is that? You have life-changing potential at your fingertips by becoming intentional about how you approach each day. Intentional living is based on a conscious attempt to live according to your values, beliefs, and priorities. That sounds simple, but most of us do not do it much of the time.
Years ago, I discovered some lessons on how to live intentionally. My family had been going through a series of deep trials, but those times slowly became brighter and happier. What was interesting was that the same concepts and tools that helped me address the toughest challenges also worked on improving the little things I faced every day.
By becoming more intentional on how I applied those principles, my life continued to improve, one day at a time.
A Day That Doesn’t Have To Be
Unfortunately, many of us do not know how to live intentionally or effectively. Therefore, we face many days which go something like this:
The alarm goes off, welcoming me rudely to another day, and a flood of tasks rush into my brain. It seems there are more “to-do’s” on my list than I have time “to do.” It often feels like I’m treading water rather than making progress in the areas that matter the most.
I want to live effectively, and my ego tells me I can keep things in control. But it’s tough, and it’s on me alone each day to do the right things. It seems I always wind up with similar results and, sometimes, the burden of the urgent becomes almost too heavy to bear.
Maybe I’ll just crawl back into bed for a while. That to-do list is looking like too much to handle, and I don’t have the energy to tackle all those tasks and decisions right now. I wish there was a better way.
Taking Positive STEPS Each Day
The STEPS are a life-improvement process that can help us avoid days like the one above. This approach is based on a proven set of principles that can help us learn how to live intentionally one day at a time:
“Life is a journey. Seek the right direction using God as your guide. Make wise choices and take the next right step.” (“STEPS: A Daily Journey to a Better Life”)
Life is a journey – At best, we have a few short decades on earth. We can use that time on important endeavors and significant relationships or squander it on trivial pursuits.
“The great and glorious masterpiece of man is to know how to live to purpose.” (Michel de Montaigne)
Seek the right direction – In life, many of us are unsure which way we should be going. The key is figuring out what is most important and using that insight to guide our path.
“The good thing is the enemy of the great.” (Jim Collins)
Using God as your guide – Each day, we decide what turns to take along our journey. Since, ultimately, God is in control, doesn’t it make sense to ask him for directions?
“There is a God. And I’m not him.” (Father Cavanaugh to Rudy Ruettiger in Rudy)
Make wise choices – Our choices affect much of our lives. It makes sense that we should do our best to make good ones.
“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” (Commonly attributed to Albert Einstein)
Take the next right step – A journey is a series of steps. The first step of a journey is the hardest but the most important.
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” (Lao-tzu)
Being Intentional is a Choice
The STEPS can help you become the best “you” possible and support the approach of living On-Purpose. When you put methodologies like these to use, your life will change for the better, and it all begins with your choice to live intentionally.
It’s up to you to take the next right step.
Question: How would you grade yourself on how intentionally you live now?
Action: Pick one or more of the elements of the STEPS principles to work on this week:
- Life is a journey
- Seek the right direction
- Using God as your guide
- Make wise choices
- Take the next right step
