I hope you get to use one of these habits to help you live more mindfully and with intention. Living a life with purpose is super important because I can feel like I’m running on autopilot, checking things off a list of things to do many times. I don’t know about you, but for me, that’s no way to live. I want to stop and smell the roses, but to be honest, I don’t have time for that. That’s why I wanted to tell you about two simple things that I do (almost) every morning. I hope they help you as much as they do for me.

You Get What You Get and You Don’t Throw a Fit

Living a life of gratitude is one of the most straightforward ways to live my life with intention. Redirecting my mindset to one that comes from a place of patience and appreciation is what keeps me calm and centered. If you have a busy schedule as I do, then a gratitude journal can be an excellent tool for you to use. I keep mine in a prominent place on my nightstand so I can see it, open it, and write in it. I love my gratitude journal; it has three lines, so I can quickly jot down three things that make me feel grateful.

It doesn’t even have to be anything generic like my family and friends. I try to dig deeper than that and write what my husband does for me that makes me appreciate him, such as when he makes me a pot of coffee for the week; or how my baby makes me feel when I see him laugh. Things such as that make me so thankful to have them in my life. It doesn’t even have to be people; I’ve written down things such as having music when working out, eating ice cream after a long day, or having a car to drive myself to places.
You can be pleased and realize all the blessings you have by practicing gratitude.

The ultimate goal is to be content with what you have and intentional about doing so every day. I highly suggest you get a gratitude journal for yourself and start writing in it every day. I used to write in my car every morning before stepping into work because that was the only time I had. Wherever you decide to keep yours is personal to you, it should be a place with zero distractions.

Start a Prayer Journal

I started a prayer journal about two years ago. It has been one of the best things I have done for my mental health. I tried meditating, but it did not work for me. I know meditation works for thousands if not millions of people, and it’s their ideal way to practice intentionality. So you would expect me to put that on this list, but I’m not.

I have this small notebook that I write down about five things or less that I want to pray over. I pray for other people who have asked me to pray for them, for myself, or for people who have no idea that I’m praying for them. Praying helps me live an intentional life by helping me stop and listen to God. If you’re reading this and you’re not a Christian, this probably won’t make any sense.

To pause and listen to what God is trying to tell me is to live more intentionally. Reading God’s word also helps me hear His voice and understand what he wants from me. Intentionally praying to God by keeping a record on a notebook has helped me tremendously in practicing mindfulness. Also, looking back at all the prayers that God has or has not answered in my life is so fascinating. It makes me feel so much closer to the Lord and helps build my relationship with Him. Through tough times and good times.

Thank you so much for reading; if you enjoyed my tips or learned anything new, please consider liking, commenting, or subscribing for more. I’d love to hear from you!

-With love, Amanda