156: Live Intentionally – Friday Fundamentals

Many people live similar lives, striving for and achieving the American dream. In pursuit,  people find themselves very similar to a lot of other people. They have similar schedules, incomes, hobbies (or lack thereof), mindsets on money, routines, retirement plans, etc. But why? We’re all individuals and have our own unique personalities. How do we end up doing the same thing as everyone else? Well from an early age we’re programmed to fit into this “system”. Not good, not bad, but nonetheless a system. From an early age, I was taught and raised to go to school, get good grades, go to college, and get a job. This was the most common and proven path to middle class. As a young kid from rural Oklahoma, I thought this path sounded great, if only I could achieve it. From my parents point of view, this was a path to success. So I did what I was taught. I went to school, did well, went on to college, and ended up with a great job. Bingo. Done. This was the end of my road map. To some, this sounds too good to be true. To others, it may sound like a nightmare. For me, I’m still figuring that part out! But getting back to my point. We are programmed to live a life of success as someone else defines it. To many, this success means a good paying job with two weeks of vacation, a nice house, a nice car, and some extra spending money every month. If this is the path you want, then great! But if you’re living this path, and it’s not what you want, then not so great! There’s no reason good enough that you shouldn’t be living a life you want. You can do anything in this life you want. Live however you want. You just have to decide what that is and then live intentionally. Living intentionally means you live and do things with a purpose. One that you have decided for yourself.  “If you don’t build your dreams,  someone else will hire you to help  build theirs”. – Tony Gaskins Jr. If you’re not living with your own intention, then you will live with someone else’s intention, or worse, none. Think of how easy it is to get wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. You can easily spend an entire day doing things you have to, but don’t want to. Some spend their entire lives never truly doing what they want. Don’t worry about doing what others around your are doing. They’re likely not doing whatever it is they’re doing because they want to, but rather probably because they have to. Rather than following someone else’s path to their success, define your own success and live intentionally. If you don’t know what you want yet, that’s ok. But carry that intention with you in figuring that out. Purposefully seek out what you want in live. Then take actionable and intentionally steps to get there. Many people get wrapped up in “Keeping up with the Jones”.  They follow the Jones path, without considering if it’s a path they want. Don’t follow what someone else is doing, for that sole reason. That won’t bring you happiness. Chances are, it’s not even bringing them happiness. Most importantly, don’t just meander through life getting pin-balled back and forth, where ever life takes you. Take control of your live. You can do whatever you want. You can live the life of your dreams. You just have to decide what that is, and then intentionally pursue it.