Intention and Reflection Versus Reaction and Frustration

It feels impossible sometimes – getting control of life and living it with a sense of ownership and authority over our own actions and outcomes.

Many times, we end up in cycles of reactivity precipitated by a disruptive event – an illness, say, or a particularly hard week at work. 

With that mindset in place, that ear worm of negativity, we continue with life, surprised and irritated when nothing seems to improve – when the opposite occurs – a mad and exhausting series of unfortunate events. 

Reaction is meant to serve us and preserve us, but when we are in a negative or defensive mindset, all it does is view each stumbling block as a catastrophic event. We learned that cycle through a tense and traumatic three years, and we learned it together.

If we can set our minds towards daily intention and bolster those efforts with daily reflection, we may make progress towards recovering a more neutral, if not more positive outlook.  

Every day, think about these four opportunities for living: 

• Connecting with your loved ones
• Connecting with nature
• Connecting with someone who needs support
• Connecting with yourself and your purpose

Use those each day as guideposts. Look for opportunities to do each intentional act. Open your eyes to living with intent instead of living in a reactive state. 

And when the day is over, ask yourself how you did: 

• Did I connect with my children or loved ones? 
• Did I connect with nature? 
• Did I connect with someone who needs support? 
• Did I connect with myself and my purpose?

 It’s hard to control our own narratives, I know. I’ve been there – deep in the trenches of reactivity and negativity. And it took a good friend to remind me that it was no way to live.

So let’s do better together. Let’s enter this new season with a sense of control and remember that bad days end and new days begin, full of opportunity engage with life in a way that actually feels like living.