Click on the link below to listen to the audio podcast of BEING INTENTIONAL:
TRANSCRIPT
Sometimes, life throws thistles at us. Sometimes our life becomes mechanical, following daily routines and schedules that become a culture. Often times than not, we are stock in these routines. It is sometimes difficult to pull out of this situation. Some of these routines are positive, but most of the time, they are negative and unhealthy routines that affect us negatively. These end up forming habits.
We must realize that to emerge as winners over our internal battles, we must intentionally choose to win in spite of the negative circumstances around and within us.
To be intentional means to be
deliberate in the choices we make. Being intentional means having the ability
to see specific results in the future that if you achieve them will make things
bigger and better for yourself, business and those around you.
Being intentional means having
the ability to make deliberate choices about the food we eat, cloths we wear,
kind of job we work, school to attend, man/woman to marry and our life style in
general. In the bible, God said “… I have set before you life and death ….” (Apologies
to non-Christians). There is no room for being confused. Confusion comes as a
result of indecision and indecision comes as a result of a weak resolve.
Being intentional means having
clarity of purpose. It also means taking specific actions on our thoughts and
feelings that are important to us. The life of intentionality entails not
leaving anything to chance while hoping for the best to happen.
It takes being intentional to get
out of a bad routine, habit, relationship, business partnership, etc. the
saying goes that “we do not control the
thoughts that crosses our mind, but we can determine what thought stays”.
Intentionality involves taking cognizance of the process. You have to walk the
ropes, work the talk and follow the process. The holy bible says “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher
of our faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross
despising the shame”. Intentional living focuses more on the process
(journey) than the outcome. The choices we make everyday defines us and
ultimately brings a sense of purpose and satisfaction.
STEPS ON BEING INTENTIONAL
People often say they didn’t have
a choice on a particular matter. The truth is we always have a choice. For
every choice, there is a consequence whether good or bad. Becoming intentional
about our choices has a lot to do with our personality. You ask yourself the
following questions; who are you? What do you want? Are your steps aligned with
your thoughts?
1. Know who you are: your identity is found in
your purpose. Why you were created. Even the smallest and most insignificant thing
created by God contributes to balancing the ecosystem. You were created for a
reason and you have a purpose. everyone was born to create a balance in life.
The choices you make are imbedded in your identity. Life isn’t lived in a
vacuum. Self-identity brings self-awareness. When you are aware of who you are,
you become intentional about the choices you make. Who are you? To identify
yourself, you need to take a deep meditation and inward assessment of yourself.
You are not who you are because of your actions, but you are who you are
because of your thought which leads to your actions. You can’t find yourself in
engaging in extracurricular activities, you find yourself when you look inward.
Who are you?
2. Know what you want: what you want is always
tied to your purpose. What are your values, goals, priorities, etc. why do you
get up from bed every morning. What do you do that makes you feel alive? Know
what you want and go for it. What you want is a product of who you are.
3. Align your actions with your thoughts: if
you think you are a failure, you will most likely fail. If you think you are
going to die, you will most likely die sooner. If you think you are sick, you
will most likely fall sick. Man is a product of his thought pattern. For as a
man thinketh in his heart, so is he. Its impossible for you to walk in
contradiction with your thought. You may fake or cover it up for a while, but
soon enough, your actions will align with your thought. Your actions tell the rest
of the world what your thoughts are. Your actions are a bye-product of your
thought pattern. The mind is a free way, you can’t control what comes in, but
you can control what stays; for what stays produces what you do.
Watch your thoughts, they become your actions, watch your actions, they become your behaviour.
Watch your behaviour, they become your habit. Watch your habit, they affect and
impact your destiny.
Don’t leave
things to chance and assumptions hoping that they would fix themselves. The
reason you are still confused is because you have decided to be indecisive.
The man who wins
isn’t the man with all the resources, the man who wins is the man who is
intentional. Intentionality is a function of the mind.
Be intentional
about your choices
Be intentional
about your job
Be intentional
about your relationships (business, friendships, marriage, etc.)
Be intentional
about your habits
Be intentional
about helping other people
Be intentional
about your attitude towards other people
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