Being Intentional??

I have missed my blog! I had a blog post all ready to go a couple of weeks ago as I was sitting in the airport and it just would not post. Technology is so awesome sometimes! I spent a week in Tahiti with my husband...wow, true wellness! Relaxing, reading, eating yummy food and resting. We all need to find ways to do that in our lives. Obviously Tahiti is not a reasonable trip for most of us but there are plenty of local ways to get away with your spouse to reconnect and rest.

I have had some interesting conversations with people lately that have prompted this post. Sometimes I don't realize what is actually driving change in my own self and I was realizing that most if it is intention. We have to be intentional when we make changes. They do not just happen. I have to be intentional everyday with my eating, exercising, organization, etc. Everything in our lives requires intention. The funny thing is, when it comes to making a major healthy life change, we want it to come easy and not have to be intentional.

Have you noticed how unplanned and unintentional behavior just causes us to spin our wheels and, often, make poor choices? My husband and I had a long conversation about this on our trip. We discussed the organizational systems in our house . . . mostly what is not working. Much of the problem is lack of intention and planning. The amount of time, energy and money we would save by planning meals weekly is huge! Though, how often do we take the time to sit down and plan those meals? I know we are horrible about it. We know the problem and yet we still continue the poor pattern. It is ridiculous too because we both know how incredibly miserable it makes us! We are scrambling at the last minute, eating the same things we are bored with, and causing more chaos in an already chaotic household! If we would simply choose to be intentional in our planning, all this ridiculousness would be saved! Funny that we keep doing something that is harder in the long run.

Thankfully, we took the time to discuss this. One of the great benefits to being away from the chaos and together in a relaxed environment...you can have productive conversations! We both are committed to being intentional in our meal planning, organization (back to a paper calendar for the family), etc. I am going to create a system when everyone in the house can see the meals for the week, calendar of the week and to do list so anyone questions can be answered without always asking mom! Once I accomplish this, I will post a picture.

The conversation I had yesterday with the friend I am coaching was primarily surrounding intention. He was discussing some of the challenges of changing eating habits. I know so many people who struggle with eating because you are bored and eating at night out of habit. These are really tough habits to break! We work so hard all day long that by the evening we are tired and worn out. It makes is  it that much harder to change the habit. I talked with him about being intentional, planning ahead and making the decision not to indulge out of boredom at night. It will be a daily challenge until the habit is broken but worth it in the long run! Right now he has to consciously make the choice everyday to not give in to the habit.

We all struggle with intention and how we fit it in our lives. It is difficult to commit to change but is doable when we make the choice and back it with intention. The definition of intention is 1. a thing intended; and aim or plan. 2. (Medicine) The healing process of a wound. Interesting medical definition. . .the healing process of a wound. With intention we are changing something or healing a wound in our life! I love that. I also love the "aim or plan" part as well. Notice that none of this said any of us are perfect and that we will not cheat or mess up. It is an aim, it is a plan, it is moving in a forward direction. We will all mess up. We will all have bad days, weeks, months, etc. But it is how we journey moving forward with intention to being well.

Have a wonderful weekend! I highly recommend you check out the website, facebook page and cookbook called Against all Grain. Danielle has an amazing story as well as awesome recipes. Very inspiring for all of us on our Journey to Wellness!