By Ashley St John
As humans, we search to be comfortable, and most of the time we crave structure. Both are essential to a healthy lifestyle in one aspect or another. But it is possible to get so caught up in the chatter around you, and so distracted by expectations, that you may forget what is actually happening inside of you. It’s in these moments that mindfulness and intention are muted, and it simply becomes easier to “go with the flow” of daily routine. Losing sight of our intention each day can become self-destructive over time, as it clouds our judgement and hinders our growth. Living intentionally will mean something different to each person, but the roots of the phrase are essentially the same: a) to live with so much purpose that you can be mindful in each situation in which you find yourself; b) to notice your reactions before they happen, and not necessarily find a constant, positive state of mind, but definitely create the ability to see past the distractions, even if just in little amounts; and c) to make deliberate decisions based on your own intuition, and be so connected with yourself that when the time comes to make a choice, you can do so confidently.