“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
~Mary Oliver
Every time I read this quote, I get reinspired to be even more intentional and Thoughtful with my day, my time, and my life.
Whereas I like to think that we get more than one go-around on this world, (as there are quite a few things I’d like to come back to try or do), this one wild and precious life is the only one we have. And too often, too many of us fritter it away.
I was on the phone with a client a few weeks ago, and she was promising herself that she would be more deliberate and purposeful in how she lived her life. Then she got stuck. “How do I do that?” she asked me.
We outlined a simple, but not-so-simple-to-follow process:
- Identify what you plan to do and how you want to live – Many of us say we want to be more intentional, but the big question is often, intentional for or to what? We first need to know where our goal or destination is, and how we want to be and live.
- Determine what steps would get you toward what you want – Often our goals seem far away or nearly impossible to reach. Take the time to map out a journey that will get you there, or at least closer.
- Notice how you currently spend your day – It can be enlightening (or horrifying) when we pay attention to how we actually use our time and how closely it is (or is not) aligned to what we say is important to us.
- Shift your behaviors and make time for what’s important – One of the main ways to get to where you want to be is to make sure you’re spending your time getting there.
We may only have this one wild and precious life, and any way you look at it, this life is often shorter than we want it to be. Take the time to plan where and how you want to be and give yourself the gift of doing what you can to get there.
What do you plan to do with your life?
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If you enjoyed this post, you can read more like it in our book, The Power of Thoughtful Leadership: 101 Minutes To Being the Leader You Want To Be, available on Amazon.
For a partner and cheerleader in living your wild and precious life as you want to, contact Lisa at lkohn@chatsworthconsulting.com.
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