Featured Interview With Claire Morton and Jules Kelly

Imagine waking up every morning with an undeniable sense of purpose, knowing that your life is uniquely designed to bring you immense joy and fulfillment. Intentional Living, also known as “living what you love,” is a transformative approach that allows you to craft a life that aligns with your core values, passions and authentic self. 

Throughout this comprehensive guide, we will delve a little deep into the world of Intentional Living, exploring its essence, principles and practical strategies to help you live your most meaningful and purposeful life.

Understanding Intentional Living: A Journey of Self-Discovery

At the heart of Intentional Living lies the desire to lead a life of significance, where every action, decision, choice and relationship is purposefully aligned with your true values, vision and intentions for the future. It’s about understanding that life is a canvas, and you are the artist responsible for creating and designing your own unique masterpiece. 

To embark on this journey of self-discovery, it’s essential to start by asking some fundamental questions:

• What brings me the most joy and fulfillment?
• What are the core values that guide my life?
• How can I ensure that my actions and choices reflect my true self?

Founder and Intentional Living Expert, Sarah Stone, emphasizes the importance of this reflection process: “Intentional Living begins with recognizing who you are at your deepest level, peeling away the layers of expectations and discovering your true authentic self.”

Unearthing Your Soul Vision: Embracing Your True Self

To live intentionally, you must reconnect with your innermost desires and passions. Often, with so much noise, speed of life and external influences drown out the voice of your soul. Sarah shares her personal journey of rediscovering her true self:

Like Sarah, many of us can relate to the process of self-abandonment, seeking validation from external sources and losing touch with our core identity. Intentional Living challenges us to break free from these limitations and embrace our soul vision. 

It’s about remembering all those dreams and aspirations we had hoped for and rediscovering our unique essence.

Practical Steps to Uncover Your Core Self

Unearthing your soul vision requires intentional efforts to go inward and reconnect with your true self. Here are some practical steps to get you started on this empowering journey:

• Create Space: Allocate time each day to quieten your mind and connect with your innermost thoughts and feelings. There are many different ways to do this, you can meditate, go for a walk or even take a moment to sit comfortably without distraction.
• Journaling: Writing is a powerful tool for self-reflection. Keep a journal to explore your thoughts, emotions and desires. Use journaling prompts to delve deeper into your core self.
• Visualization: This powerful technique harnesses the creative power of your mind to craft a vivid mental image of your desired reality. By dedicating time each day to envision your brightest life, you create a powerful alignment between your desires, beliefs, and actions. 
• Creative Expression: Engage in creative practices that ignite your passion and allow you to express yourself freely. Whether it’s painting, writing, dancing, or singing, creative activities open doors to self-awareness. Creating a vision board from your visualization is the ideal way to bring your soul vision to life.
• Travel and New Experiences: Embrace new experiences and travel to different places. Novel environments often trigger self-reflection and provide opportunities for personal growth.

Defining Your Core Values: The Foundation of Intentional Living

Core values are the fundamental principles that guide your behaviour, decisions, and relationships. They represent what matters most to you and act as a compass in navigating life’s choices. Intentional Living requires clarity in defining your core values, as they serve as the foundation upon which your brightest life is built.

The Process of Defining Your Core Values

Identifying your core values involves introspection and soul-searching. Here are some guiding questions to help you in this process:

• When do you feel most at peace and fulfilled?
• What activities or experiences bring you a sense of purpose and joy?
• What aspects of your life do you refuse to compromise?

Creating a list of your core values is the first step towards intentional living. This list becomes your guiding light, helping you make decisions that align with your true self.

Living with Alignment: Embracing Authenticity and Intention

Living in alignment means matching your actions, decisions, and goals with your core values and authentic self. It’s about letting go of the pursuit of external validation and focusing on the fulfillment that comes from living in harmony with your true essence.

“In a world that often measures success based on achievements and external accolades, Intentional Living invites us to redefine success. It’s about finding alignment with our core values and acknowledging that this alignment itself is a powerful source of fulfilment,” explains Sarah.

The Shift from Achievement to Alignment

Achievement-driven goals often revolve around seeking validation from external sources. They are based on the notion that achieving specific milestones or acquiring certain possessions will lead to happiness. However, this mindset can lead to a perpetual state of seeking, without ever experiencing true fulfillment.

Intentional living shifts the focus from external achievements to internal alignment. It involves living each day in a way that is authentic and in line with your core values, regardless of external recognition or approval. By embracing alignment, you liberate yourself from the pressure of societal norms and cultivate a profound sense of self-awareness.

Overcoming Limiting Beliefs and “Shoulds”

Living intentionally requires challenging the limiting beliefs and “shoulds” that have shaped your life. These self-imposed constraints may stem from societal expectations, past experiences, or fear of judgment. Recognizing and releasing these limiting beliefs is crucial to living with alignment and authenticity.

“Letting go of the stories we tell ourselves about who we should be is a powerful step toward intentional living. It allows us to embrace our true selves and live our lives on our terms,” shares Sarah.

The Power of Ownership: Taking Charge of Your Own Destiny

Intentional living demands ownership of your choices, actions, feelings, behaviors and outcomes. It’s about recognizing that you have the power to design your life and create the reality you desire. While external circumstances may influence your path, you remain the architect of your destiny.

Owning your life means taking responsibility for your decisions and responses to life’s challenges. It’s about acknowledging that while we can’t control everything, we can control how we react and adapt.

The Role of Fear and Vulnerability

Fear often acts as a barrier to intentional living. It is the voice that whispers doubts and insecurities, making us hesitant to embrace our true selves fully. Intentional living encourages acknowledging fear while not letting it dictate our choices.

Vulnerability is an inherent part of intentional living. Embracing vulnerability means being open to experiences, relationships, and opportunities that align with our core values, even if they carry the risk of disappointment or failure.

Practical Strategies for Living Intentionally

Intentional living is not a one-time decision; it is a daily practice of mindfulness and purposeful choices. Here are some practical strategies to help you integrate intentional living into your life:

• Create a Life Vision: Develop a vision for your life that reflects your core values and passions. Use this vision as a guiding compass to inform your choices and actions.
• Set Intentional Goals: Set goals that align with your life vision and core values. Focus on the journey, not just the destination and don’t forget to celebrate every step forward along the way.
• Practice Mindfulness: Cultivate mindfulness in your daily life, paying attention to your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Mindfulness helps you stay present and make intentional decisions.
• Establish Healthy Boundaries: Set clear boundaries in your personal and professional life to protect your time, energy and overall well-being. Learn to say no to commitments that don’t align with your core values.
• Embrace Self-Compassion: Intentional living requires self-compassion and kindness toward yourself. It’s so important to celebrate your achievements and acknowledge that growth involves learning from setbacks.
• Surround Yourself with Supportive Relationships: Cultivate relationships with people who support and inspire your journey toward intentional living. Connect with like-minded individuals who share similar values.

Founder and Intentional Living Expert, Sarah Stone, shares her final thoughts: