cultivating intentionality & inner trust
Overview
Hello LOVs! Welcome to a new month and reflection. Since the year has begun, i have been in such deep reflection about the year ahead, my purpose, and how i am creating intentional space and practices that align with my highest good/purpose. Last month we explored change and embracing alignment with the seasons and energetic timeline.
“sometimes, however, when we think about change or embracing new things it can feel challenging to embrace our new path as we may feel there are certain qualifications, skills, or knowledge required before we can begin to shift. seldom is this the case! a lot of times, the first and most important thing we need to change is the willingness to do so. change requires a commitment to the process of experiencing the various ups and downs as it begins to materialize into our physical world. this is why taking time for rest, reflection, and re-evaluation during winter is crucial as this is the time our bodies need to genuinely process our experiences and begin planning for what’s next”
Embracing intentional living
When considering the idea of intentional living it can sometimes feel daunting to think about the nuance of what it means to be “intentional.” By definition the word intentional means
“done on purpose; deliberate.; a determination to act in a certain way; a process or manner of healing of incised wounds”
It means taking control of the outcome of our own lives and healing on purpose by making decisions on purpose. A lot of times in life we are faced with situations that make it feel as if we don’t have control over the outcome. We feel as if we are unable to decide what happens and therefore can’t have control of the outcome. This is exactly how we give away our power - by believing we never had any in the first place. Embracing intentional living requires us to recognize our inherent power to create circumstances and outcomes that reflect our wants, needs, desires, and purpose. It’s recognizing that our lives are simply mirrors that reflect what we choose to put our time and energy into - making it equally possible to manifest turmoil and it is success.
The role of inner trust
Intentional living and making decisions on purpose is only the outcome of a greater skill - inner trust. Inner trust is the vehicle that carries our ability to act as it relates to ourselves - it is the foundation in which we build our concept of need & desire. Having inner trust in ourselves means we have faith in our ability to advocate & show up for ourselves in a deep and meaningful way. It doesn’t mean we are perfect, just that we are present, honest, and transparent with ourselves. There is truly no one who knows you better than you!
Four ways to foster inner trust & live intentionally
All of this sounds nice in theory, but how do you actually incorporate it into your life? How do you actually begin to live intentionally and foster a trusting relationship with your own inner wisdom?
Keep Promises to Yourself
One of the best ways to begin to trust yourself is to show up for yourself! We show up for ourselves by making commitments to ourself, growth, or wellbeing that we follow through on! Especially when it comes to healing, it is important to establish a baseline standard of treatment, care, and love that you can extend to other people, spaces, and areas. Keeping promises to ourselves can look like making a commitment to waking up 5 minutes early for 1 week and doing so, making a commitment to do your laundry after not doing so for a while, or getting back into your wellness routines starting with a new weekly goal. The key to keeping our promises is to make them manageable and realistic. Making a promise to work out everyday when you have other outstanding commitments may not be realistic but it may be more manageable to start with one week or a shorter time period that allows you to show up fully and complete your commitment.
Journaling
Journaling is one of the best ways for us to observe our thoughts, feelings, and perspectives over time without outside influence. Journaling allows an opportunity to release and express without judgment while also providing us an opportunity to process what we experience. One way to approach journaling is to regularly complete gratitude exercises and brain dumps that allow you freedom of expression. By writing down what is on our hearts, we allow ourselves an opportunity to be vulnerable but safe and validated.
Spend time alone
Another great way to cultivate inner trust is by being alone and embracing your own energy. Being alone allows us time to decompress, process, and experience our own energy without outside influence. Sometimes it can be easy to rely on the presence of others to feel entertained, validated, seen, or acknowledged which can leave us susceptible to lacking confidence in ourselves thus creating a need to look to others to provide us permission to do or be. Feeling comfortable in our own skin and what we want gives us the power to begin to make decisions that are centered around ourselves without guilt or shame.
Try something new
Giving yourself the opportunity to try something new allows you a chance to get to know yourself in a new way. It can be easy to get stuck in our comfort zones and thus feel as if we are destined to live life one way forever. Unfortunately, growth doesn’t come from our comfort zone, nor does challenge or risk which are necessary to building our sense of self. If we never take risks and try new things we never give ourselves the chance to discover if there is more to us than what meets the eye. Trying new foods, experiences, or hobbies allows you to exercise your ability to make decisions based upon what you like and dislike. It can also break us out of our mundane experience which challenges us to develop a new perspective which can empower us with new information or a new outlook.
Takeaways
At the end of the day, our individual lives are going to go through many different cycles and stages, allowing us the opportunity to reinvent ourselves time and again. By making a concerted effort to be intentional with ourselves we in turn become more intentional and focused on our future thus connecting us deeper to our purpose.
