A few thoughts on why being intentional is important …

Intentional living is a lot like gardening. If we want a beautiful garden, we need to do our part to bring it to life. We need to prepare the soil, plant the flowers, and tend to it regularly. Our effort is an essential part of the process.

Our effort isn’t the only contributor, though. There’s a silent partner at play, as well. This partner, an intangible life force, contributes in unexpected, mysterious ways to the emerging beauty. A heavy rain may germinate dormant seeds long forgotten. A blue jay may drop a volunteer seed that blooms into a delightful surprise. A neighborhood child may show up as a regular helper, bringing their joy and companionship along with them. That’s just the way intentionality goes. Somehow, some way, our sincere effort activates something bigger than ourselves that joins forces with us.

The same partnership is true for intentional living. If we want to experience a beautiful life, we need to do our part to cultivate it. For example, if we want strong, loving relationships, we need to do our part to cultivate them. If we want a healthy body, mind, and spirit, we need to build habits that support wellness. As with gardening, if we make sincere, ongoing efforts, an intangible life force flows our way to support us. Where intention goes, energy flows.

I still don’t know exactly how this works. I’ve been a practitioner of the art of intentionality for decades, and it refuses to be wrangled into a formula. Instead, intentionality hovers in a place of elusive spaciousness…it’s action and surrender; focus and openness; certainty and mystery. What I do know is that it works, and my life is richer for it.

I welcome the opportunity to mentor and coach you on your journey.

~Warmly, Ann

Where intention goes, energy flows.®

Ann Drew Yu is a professional coach, educator, and writer in the personal development field. She is the creator of The Intention Program, a lifestyle curriculum; and The Intention Box, a lifestyle tool. She earned her Masters Degree in Literature from Middlebury College. She lives in Minneapolis and Seattle with her husband and dog Zephyr, and she enjoys spending as much time as possible with her two adult sons.