100 Days of Intention

I have been thinking about this post for quite some time- well before the New Year rolled around.

2013 was a challenging year.  

I want 2014 to be better.

I know for a period of time in latter part of 2013, I quit doing things I normally do to take care of myself: eating in a way that fuels and sustains my body and mind, reading my bible daily and praying, WRITING, reading and practicing yoga.

Instead I spent endless hours watching Netflix while eating takeout and sweets, napping away whole days nursing hangovers of various sorts and avoiding God. I avoided writing because words I have to say felt too big to put pen to paper. I still ran and lifted weights occasionally but I had no schedule or plan and simply missed numerous days in a row due to lack of interest and energy.

I am not going to go on and on about how I’ve been depressed for a couple months. Because honestly? No one wants to read sad stories and I don’t really want to talk about it anymore. But I will say I have been struggling and I’m going to do something about it.

Originally, I wanted to use the word discipline to describe this endeavor. I liked the idea of having a plan and goals and being diligent- showing care in one’s duties- in working towards them. Then I looked up the definition of the word discipline:

The practice of training people to obey rules or code of behavior, using punishment to correct disobedience.

Yuck. No. Not at all what I was looking for. I’ve been punished plenty by myself in this life, I am not looking to do anymore damage to my self-esteem through unrealistic expectations in the form of rules. Instead, I’m looking to create positive habits in my life that are the opposite of punishment- behaviors and rituals that are positive. I want to form routines that are encouraging and kind to my body and soul.

I’ve read a lot about creating habits as a means to reaching goals. (I highly recommend the book ‘The Power of Habit’ – check it out here) I read something once on the internet about creating a habit by doing something for 100 days. If you did one thing every day for 100 days- what would that look like? How would your life be changed?

I have made many goals over the years: I quit smoking in 2010, trained for a marathon in 2011, ran one in 2012 and ran my second marathon in 2013. I’ve made goals to read more, write more and spend less. Last year, I didn’t buy any new clothes (except 3 items in November that I swapped out for old stuff). I like having a plan and a goal and I find great accomplishment in doing something I set out to.

This year, instead of just doing something for the year, I wanted to START something lifelong. I wanted to pull in a little and put less focus on doing all the things and more on being the best version of me that I can me through the creation of good habits.  I want to just be better in 2014.

Intention is described as ‘an aim or plan.’ I think this is an accurate description of the changes I’m trying to make in my life.  

Starting January 6^th, for each of the next 100 days I am:

• Writing for at least 15 minutes (always journaling on paper, but also blogging on some days)
•  Reading my Bible (I’m using the Chronological plan on YouVersion to read through the entire bible this year)
• Physical Activity (run, dog walk, gym or yoga)
• Yoga for at least 10 minutes

I started at the New Year  with some of these things to sort of ready myself, but my official Day 1 was Monday January 6^th. I picked it because I like starting things on Monday because it’s a new fresh week. Also, Monday was Ephiphany. If you don’t what that is, it is the 12^th day of Christmas and also when Jesus was recognized as the Son of God in human form.  I felt like that was a good day to make some changes to my life.

This verse inspired me: “So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.” 1 Peter 1:13

Today is Day 5 of my 100. I’ve already ran into issues with feeling lazy at night and not wanting to do yoga or write or read.  I’ve woke up tired and hungry and really wanting cookies at 3 PM, but I’ve dug in and stuck to these things. They seem so small when I put them on paper, but having a focus and carrying out something for 100 days is no easy feat.

Have you seen this video floating around the internet? I watched this video 3 days into my 100 and it inspired me even more to keep it up. I believe that having intention and goals is the only way to grow as a person. Having a plan and a goal and reaching it is the most amazing feeling. You can see and feel the fruits of your labor. You reach a new level of knowing with yourself…that you have the ability to do anything you set your mind out to do.  It builds confidence and self-awareness and allows you to reach levels of success that before seemed unreachable.

I’ve just been thinking that there are things I want for my life- to be an entrepreneur, to travel, to be close to God, to be healthy and to live a long and happy life. If I fail to take action to make those things happen, if I don’t put in the work (at the things that require me doing them- obviously God loves me no matter what), then I have no one to blame but myself! 

Every day, every single one of us has the conscious decision to engage in life or not. 

I chose to engage.

It’s quite possible I can work towards all the things I want out of life and not get them. However, I will know that I did everything I could; I’ll know I gave it my all.

I struggled with getting these thoughts out. I’ve agonized over what I wanted the 100 days to represent to me. I looked up numerous words and thought them over, rolling them around in my head and finally landed on intention.

I wasn’t 100% sold on it, then I looked up the definition and knew it was the right word for me. 

You know what the other definition of intention is?

The healing process of a wound.

Here’s to health, happiness and healing this very year and all the years to come. 

Happy New Year.