Living with Purpose: A Journey into Intentional Living
As we go through the process of our day to day lives, it's easy to get caught up in activities, obligations, and routines that may not necessarily align with what truly matters to us. We often find ourselves giving time and energy to activities that don’t actually make any contribution to our goals, values, well-being or personal fulfillment. Social media anyone?
But what if we could shift our focus, intentionally set aside time for what genuinely matters to us?
In this blog, we embark on a journey of introspection and intentional living. We'll explore the transformative power of spending time on activities that resonate with our core values, passions, and personal growth.
Join us as we learn to prioritize what truly matters, step away from the autopilot mode of life and embrace a more conscious, purpose-driven approach to our precious time.
It's time to redefine our priorities and reclaim moments that enrich our lives in meaningful ways.
Did you know there is a strong correlation between behavior and emotions? How you spend your time and what behaviors you engage in directly influences how you feel. And visa versa, your emotions often influence how you spend your time.
One approach I find extremely effective in helping align our thoughts and behaviors is called BEHAVIOR ACTIVATION.
Behavior Activation (BA) focuses on understanding and modifying behaviors to improve mental health and emotional well-being. It is grounded in the understanding that our behaviors and emotions are interconnected. It acknowledges the relationship between what we do and how we feel.
Simply put, Behavior Activation is an intervention that encourages you to engage in more activities that you enjoy and that align with your values, and less of the activities that don’t serve you.
Another name for this is Intentional Living
HOW IT WORKS:
Step 1: Activity Monitoring
List Daily Activities:
Start by listing your daily activities. You can use a simple lined piece of notebook paper and start with the time you wake up until you go to bed. You can rough estimate the times and group activities such as “getting ready for work”. Keep this log for about a week to identify where and how you’re spending your time.
Rate Emotions:
Next to each activity, rate the associated emotions on a scale from 1 to 10 (1 being negative, 10 being positive).
Step 2: Values-Based Living
Identify Core Values:
List your core values.
These are the principles and aspects of life that are most important to you.
These usually include relationships, spirituality, career/work, leisure/fun, health and wellness, financial stability, etc.
Align Activities with Values:
Evaluate your daily activities. Highlight those that align with your core values.
Now don’t feel bad if these seem out of balance. The first time I did this exercise I was shocked at how much time I spent on things that really didn’t matter to me at all. I spent hours on social media while ignoring my poor doggos!
Step 3: Set a Goal
Look to increase activities that align with what’s important to you.
Decrease activities that don’t align with your values.
Intentional living is an ongoing journey marked by conscious choices and a commitment to aligning our actions with our core values. It beckons us to reassess our priorities, encouraging a shift away from the autopilot mode of existence towards a more mindful, deliberate approach.
In each intentional choice lies the potential for transformation and the creation of a life that resonates with the truest version of ourselves.
May your journey be intentional, your choices mindful, and your life a testament to the beauty of living with purpose and authenticity.
GET YOUR FREE GOAL MASTERY WORKBOOK HERE
f you need help with living more intentionally contact Carrie Raap at R+ Therapy in Tucson, AZ. Carrie is an online therapist with more than 20 years experience. She is an expert in behavior change. Her therapeutic specialties include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy addressing relationships, stress management, coping, making positive changes and anxiety. She has numerous credentials, including a Master's Degree in Social Work (MSW) and a license in clinical social work (LCSW). She is also a Certified Service Dog Trainer and loves blending these passions to help people improve their mental health with animal assisted therapies. She has several virtual therapy options to help you achieve your goals, including online courses, individual therapy, free resources, She is hard at work designing some online courses for you so check back soon!