Category Archives: intention

Who sets your agenda?

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Who sets your agenda?

—Question from a Seth Godin post

Image from Unsplash by engine akyurt

Every day, someone or something is competing to program your mind — emails, social media, expectations, and the endless noise of “urgent” demands.

Pause and ask: Who really decides where your attention goes? When others set your agenda, you surrender the very power that defines your life.

Leadership starts with self-ownership — choosing what matters most and acting from intention, not reaction.

Imagine how different your week would look if you curated it instead of consuming it.

Freedom isn’t found in more time; it’s found in claiming your focus.

Reclaim your agenda. Make it your declaration of purpose, not a to-do list written by someone else.

EXERCISE:

Instead of me offering you a specific exercise here, create one of your own to set the course of your day and all your tomorrows to come.

We’re not just observers, we’re participants — co-creators of tomorrow.

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“We’re not just observers, we’re participants — co-creators of tomorrow.”

—Stephen St. Amant, Author of the Savenwood Blog

Image from Unsplash by Daniele Levis Pelusi

We’re not just observers in this unfolding story of life — we’re participants, architects, and co-creators of tomorrow.

Every choice we make, every thought we nurture, builds the framework of what comes next.

Waiting for “someday” surrenders our creative power!

The world doesn’t evolve without our fingerprints on it. So, instead of asking, “What will the future bring?” try asking, “What future am I building right now?”

Each action, conversation, and invention is a brushstroke on the canvas of what’s to come. Step out of the spectator’s seat — the next chapter in our life isn’t written for us. It’s written by us.

EXERCISE:

Where in your world are you intentional about leaving a mark?

What mindful choices and acts of courage are yours to make to give yourself and others many better tomorrows?

Everyone discovers an extra gear in a crisis

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“Everyone discovers an extra gear in a crisis. The rare skill is accessing it without one.”

—Shane Parrish, New York Times bestselling author

Image from Unsplash by Tim Mossholder

Everyone finds an extra gear in a crisis. It’s almost primal — the sudden clarity, the instinctive surge that lets us move faster, think sharper, endure longer.

But why does it take a crisis to wake up our full potential?

Most people need pressure to feel permission to be powerful. Only the rare few don’t wait for the fire — they summon that energy on purpose.

They act with urgency before urgency exists. They don’t need adrenaline — they have intention.

Mastering that — accessing your “crisis gear” in calm times — isn’t luck or genetics, it’s discipline, awareness, and practice.

The world rewards those who shift early, not only when the road is on fire.

EXERCISE:

Consider reading Wayne Dyer’s book The Power of Intention to access that extra gear. His work demonstrates how intention is a universal creative force where aligned thoughts, emotions, and actions come together to create a more rewarding and purposeful life.

Leave every place you go, everything you touch, a little better for having been there

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“Leave every place you go, everything you touch, a little better for having been there.”

—Julie Andrews, English actress, singer, and author

Image from Unsplash by Immo Wegmann

Julie Andrews — who played Mary Poppins — reminds us of the quiet power of intentional living.

Improvement doesn’t always require grand gestures. Often, it’s the small choices — picking up something left behind, offering a smile, sharing encouragement — that helps the world feel lighter.

Each interaction is a chance to plant seeds of kindness, respect, or care that ripple beyond us.

What if every day became an opportunity to uplift the spaces and souls we encounter?

The true measure of a life well lived may not be wealth or accolades, but the trail of goodness we leave behind.

EXERCISE:

Where in your life can you contribute your own spoon full of sugar to make the world better and brighter for having been there?

When we embrace our deliberate slow ritual

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When we embrace our deliberate slow rituals, we learn to savor and fully appreciate each tasty morsel of our lives.

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Brett Jordan

In a world that moves too fast it takes real courage to slow down.

When we choose to move with intention — whether it’s a morning cup of coffee, writing a thoughtful note, or taking a mindful walk —we reconnect to life’s quiet richness.

These rituals remind us that meaning isn’t found in a rush to finish, but in cherishing each step along the way.

Like savoring a fine meal, our days become more flavorful when we pause to experience each morsel fully.

Slow rituals nourish us, offering balance, gratitude, and the calm strength needed for a rewarding and meaningful life.

EXERCISE:

What are some deliberate slow rituals that enrich your life? If you have yet to do so recently, consider adding new mindfulness and self-care practices to the mix.

Discover and embrace the vital elements of the world

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Discover and embrace the vital elements of the world and through diligent focus build a good and meaningful life.

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Brett Jordan

Discovering and embracing the vital elements of the world is a cornerstone of a meaningful life. Nature, relationships, knowledge, and purpose are all around us, waiting to be recognized and appreciated.

When we open our eyes and hearts to these essentials, we unlock new perspectives and opportunities for growth.

Discovery alone, however, is not enough. It is through diligent, focused effort that we truly build something lasting.

By consistently dedicating ourselves to our values and goals, we share our lives with intention and resilience. In this journey, every small step counts!

Embrace what matters, work diligently, and watch your life transform into one of depth, fulfillment, and genuine happiness.

EXERCISE:

What are some key elements in your world that can help you build a more meaningful life?

How can and will you apply them with greater intention and diligence in your daily efforts?

When you find yourself at a fork in the road

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When you find yourself at a fork in the road, do you decide or slide?

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Caleb Jones

Today’s quote prompts us to reflect on our decision-making processes.

In life, we often encounter moments in which choices must be made. Deciding involves taking control, weighing options, and moving forward with intention.

Sliding, on the other hand, can lead to missed opportunities and regret by mindlessly staying the course we happen to be on.

Embracing decision-making empowers us to shape our futures and grow from our experiences.

By choosing to decide, we assert our agency and move closer to our goals, fostering personal growth and fulfillment.

Our choices define our journey.

EXERCISE:

Where are you at a critical juncture in your life?

Where can intentional decision making versus passively drifting through life’s choices make all the difference?

“Allocate time well ahead of time.”

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“Allocate time well ahead of time.”

—Arthur C. Brooks, Professor at the Harvard Kennedy School

Image from Unsplash by Luke Chesser

“Time management” is a misnomer. Time flies while having fun, and moves along on its own even when we’re not having such a good time.

I prefer the term allocate, as in today’s quote. It conveys levels of intentionality and prioritization in the way many people try to wisely save and spend their money.

Time is life’s ultimate currency.

We only get so much and when it’s gone it’s gone. Investing this precious resource reminds me of the phrase, Plan your work and Work your plan.

Even when we are not working it seems wise to allocate significant periods of our days to the priorities of family, community, health, and leisure to keep things operating optimally.

EXERCISE:

In what areas of your life would allocating your time more wisely make the biggest difference? What blocks of time works best for you to apply this planning practice?

Where do you experience the flow of life without interference

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Where do you experience the flow of life without interference? Go there when you wish to feel the sensation of effortless effort.

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Mathew Schwart

How often do you feel you are swimming upstream, against the current? Where in your personal and professional life do you experience the greatest resistance to your best intentions and efforts?

What strategies and approaches are helpful when you feel you are about to go under?

With these examples in mind, shift your mental and emotional compasses 180 degrees to some of the effortless flow states you’ve experienced in the past.

EXERCISE:

Envision yourself as an eagle or another majestic bird soaring on the warm updrafts of air from their surroundings.  How can you revisit this and other sensations of effortless effort when the world gets you down?

Summon your best intentions like arrows from your heart

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Summon your best intentions like arrows from your heart and let them fly into your days.

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Amazon

Living with intention is described as a way of living consciously and deliberately according to one’s passions, purpose, goals, and values.

It can include simplifying your environment, engaging in mental and physical practices, and choosing where to invest your time and energy.

Today’s reflection points to our hearts as the source of their power. It is still up to us to aim them, pull back our life bows, and let them fly.

EXERCISE:

It has been over 20 years since Dr. Wayne Dyer’s book The Power of Intention was published. Consider reading or re-reading this classic and learn some of the enduring lessons of co-creating your world your way.