Dare to Take Intentional Actions
When you take intentional actions then you create your unique purposeful journey. You have to do something to make something happen or else you do nothing and then nothing happens (or at least nothing you had wanted to happen). Either way, you choose.
Dare to take
Intentional actions
And move into
Your unique possibilities.
Defining Intentional Actions
I made a list of chores to get done before we hosted a family gathering. My son took one look at the list and got to work. I was busy with my part of the chore list (and more than a few things I didn’t bother putting on the list) so I didn’t notice what he was doing at first.
When I went to check something off the list, I noticed he hadn’t checked any off. Even though he had been hard at work since I posted the list, he’d accomplished nothing from the list.
I found him, working away, at cleaning out his closet – which wasn’t even close to something on the chore list.
“What are you doing?” I had to ask, even though it was obvious he was cleaning out his closet. I should have guessed the response.
“Cleaning my closet.”
I sighed. I guess if you feed them #SnarkyRainbows then you can’t be shocked when they shovel it back on you. “Yes. I see that. Why are you cleaning your closet.”
“You told me to pick something.”
It was true. I had told him to pick something. I didn’t specify something from the list. A mother of three boys KNOWS to be more specific, but I was distracted. That’s when they usually get you.
“Find. But finish that up in the next ten minutes and get busy doing something that will help us with our goal.”
Intentional actions are those activities we do that move us closer to where we want to be. You can get busy doing a lot of things and miss the intentional choices that will lead you to the better thing.
You have to be intentional about choosing the intentional actions.
- Moving you closer to your goal.
- Keeping you focused.
- Energized for more.
- Strengthening for the next step.
Choices Go Both Ways
Martha invited a bunch of people to come hang out at her house – last minute of course. She scurried around the house trying to get everything ready, but soon folks began to arrive. Despite the to-do list she’d posted in the kitchen, she seemed to be the only person getting the house and food ready for the guests.
As the party moved forward without her, Martha got annoyed – first at her sister and then at the guests. She went to the guest of honor and demanded help. “Don’t you care that I’m doing all the work? Tell my sister to help me.”
Now, her sister was sitting right there. Martha could have said something to her sister or could have simply asked for some help. Instead, she made the choice to the very person she was hoping to honor in her home.
He simply replied, “You are busy with much doing – worried and upset about many things. Your sister has chosen better and it will not be taken from her.”
Martha chose to prepare for guests. Martha chose to go the extra mile to make the food. Martha chose to do what she was doing – maybe out of obligation, tradition, or the need to look good. Who knows the why behind the choice, but it was a choice.
Her sister chose to be engaged with the guests.
Each had the choice to go either way. Jesus told Martha that Mary had chosen better. (from Luke 10: 38 – 42)
If you are going to be invested in choosing intentional actions, then you have to keep your eye on the bigger picture. And you have to be willing to choose better.
If you want something to happen in your life then you can't sit around and wait for it to come to you. Share on XChoose to Move Closer to Your Goal
You need a goal to make intentional actions. If you don’t know what you want to accomplish then your actions become busy work. I don’t know about you, but I hated busy work when I was in school. I wanted there to be a purpose behind my doing. When it comes to living fearlessly in the world, you have to have a goal that keeps you moving through it.
What is the goal where you are setting your aim?
Keep Your Focus
Life is going to happen. No matter how much you want it to stay in its lane, it’s going to try to bump you out. The more focused you are on where you are going, the harder it becomes for the chaos and craziness of the world to distract you from your unique purpose. Each intentional action you choose will help you maintain your better.
What is distracting you from your focus?
Becoming Energized for More Intentional Actions
When you are doing what you know to do, each step fuels you to do more. It’s the difference between spinning your wheels in the sand and spinning your wheels to move to the mountaintop. Both involve spinning your wheels, but one will leave you exhausted and frustrated while the other will leave you invigorated (and maybe tired). The invigoration of getting it done will energize you to do more.
Are you spinning your wheels in the sand or up the mountain?
Intentional Actions Build Your Strength
Running a marathon requires more than a short sprint. Even a short sprint followed by a short sprint will not get you to a marathon. You have to build up to a marathon – and you have to do it intentionally. You don’t step out of your house and accidentally run a marathon. And you won’t step into your purpose accidentally. Each intentional action will strengthen you a little bit more for the next intentional action.
How are you building intentional strength?
Wrap Up the Intentional Actions
You have to do something so you might as well do the things that will get you closer to where you want to be. Dare to take intentional action to live your best life.
When you take intentional action, you move intentionally closer to where you want to be. Through your intentional action, you develop the ability to keep the focus on your BIG DREAM goal. The actions you take lead you to do more because you are energized and motivated through your progress. The more you step, the stronger you are for taking the next step.
You can. When you dare to take intentional actions into your unique design then you will!
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