Intentional Living
“Intentional living brings you daily satisfaction and continual reward as you intentionally make a difference in the lives of others. ” – John Maxwell
In the past month, I have been putting emphasizing intentional living as a means to increase significance in my life while gaining deeper connections with those around me. Below are the three strategies I have been using to live an intentional life.
1. Say Something Encouraging to People Within the First 30 Seconds.
It takes great intentionality to do this, but it has paid huge dividends. Imagine someone coming up to you and telling you how they love your scarf, or how you knocked that presentation out of the ballpark. If you have even been encouraged, then you know how great it feels. As I have been doing this, my relationships have grown, people around me are happier, and I gain satisfaction knowing that I am encouraging those around me whom I love and respect.
2. Ask Better Questions
I was exhausted from asking people about the weather, and how their day was going. So I became intentional about writing questions that would bring about positive responses. When I encounter people I now ask questions like: “What was the best part of your day?” “What do you dream about?” “What is something amazing that your son or daughter is doing right now?” “If money didn’t matter, what would you be doing right now?”
The responses to these questions has been amazing. I have engaged in richer and abundant conversations. People are opening up to me like never before and our relationships are growing faster than ever. Try saying that after asking someone about the weather.
3. Visit a Memory
People love memories. Do you remember the first time you fell in love with your partner? Do you remember something amazing that you did with your best friend? Do you remember what its like when you surround yourself with loved ones to share stories?
You probably have fond memories of all of those questions, and as I wrote them, I had a smile on my face. Visiting past memories allows people to remember how much you care and cherish something memorable. Doing this is much simpler than it may seem. Try taking a picture of a gift you were given and saying thank you. Re-post a picture on Facebook of something great that you and a friend did. Remind your spouse how you felt when you first fell in love.
Intentional living has changed my life. My relationships are better, I have more energy and the people around me are much happier. I want to take this time to thank the author John Maxwell for his book called Intentional Living. By incorporating his strategies, the last month of my life has better than ever before.
If you are interested in starting a course on intentional living, you can go to the following websites to dive deeper into the topic. Enjoy the journey.
Website: Leading Through Service
Twitter: @JosephDBush