Chronically Intentional

When options become limited, we have to learn how to prioritize what matters. This isn’t exclusive to the chronically ill and disabled – most people have competing priorities, responsibilities, and non-negotiables. Recognizing your limitations is the first step to re-designing your life into one that fulfills you, but how do you know what and when to prioritize? How do you balance it all?

Many of us go through life taking our everyday for granted – from our physical or mental abilities to our interpersonal relationships, jobs, access to food, and so on. Non-spoonies, or people who can count on having enough energy to do what they need and want to do in a day, don’t have to think about whether spending an hour of screen time scrolling on social media will hinder their ability to FaceTime with a loved one later in the day; whether eating a treat will put them in bed for the rest of the week.

While I was never one of these people with sufficient energy, becoming severely ill forced me to change the way I lived my life day-to-day. I had less ability for the things I needed to do, much less the things I wanted, and my poor state of mental health necessitated finding as many opportunities for joy, healing, and ease as possible. If you can relate, I have a few tips to help you start reclaiming your life:

It all boils down to intention. Learning to live intentionally can bring joy, meaning, and accomplishment to every day, no matter what level of ability you wake up with. It can also help you focus on healing and recovery. Living with intention doesn’t mean you won’t experience frustration, pain, or disappointment, but it can help balance out the hard things by ensuring everything within your control is best suited to you.

Intention is a practice. It means consciously engaging with your habits, routines, consumption, and relationships – which is not always comfortable. Take your time and be intentional about processing feelings of discomfort as they arise. There is no rush to change everything at once or overwhelm yourself. The practice will evolve and shift as you figure out what works for you over time. We can’t control every aspect of our lives, but we can be intentional about how we navigate the things over which we have less power.

Not sure where to begin? Try starting with your morning habits, which set the tone for your day. What’s the first thing you do after opening your eyes? Through gentle inquiry, ask yourself what kind of impact your first action has on your mind, body, and tone-setting for your day. Maybe you find that checking your phone first thing starts your day with anxiety, and encourages you to keep checking diligently throughout the day. If your inquiry exposes negativity attached to this habit, what could you replace it with? 

Be realistic. Don’t plan to replace the existing habit with something you aren’t likely to do or feel you should do. Pick something you enjoy that aligns with how you want to feel when you start your day. Maybe you make a cup of coffee and sit outside for a few minutes for fresh air and a little sunshine. Maybe you still reach for your phone right away, but instead of checking in with the outside world, you use a meditation app instead.

Wherever you start, the practice will spread throughout your life if you keep at it. If you try it and find it helpful, let me know! While this is your personal journey, it can strengthen your intentional practice to foster community with others who share a desire to be more present and aligned in their lives. 

Need personalized guidance? Book your discovery call today to see if text-based health coaching is right for you. All one-on-one coaching packages also include access to a Discord community where you can find peer support and connect with others on the path to living more intentionally.