For me the answer to this question is very interconnected with my faith and what I believe the purpose of life to be—our conscious striving to develop virtues in ourselves (for example, those of being loving and kind, honest and trustworthy) and to be of service to others while working together to make this world a little better than when we entered it. These two facets of life actually work in harmony with each other. It is through service to others that we are able to most effectively develop those qualities of being a loving, kind and compassionate person. At the same time, as these qualities grow within us, we are more inclined to seek out opportunities to serve and move through our daily life with this intention in mind—that our work is worship, that educating our children to understand and develop their own moral compass is a form of service, that working in our communities and building deep friendships with others is impactful. 

So, then living an intentional life comes down to reflecting on what the ultimate purpose of our life is—to develop spiritual capacities or virtues and to be of service—and with that in mind, intentionally structuring our life in a way that increases the possibility of us attaining these things in our ongoing journey of life. 

These are some of the tools I am using to live my life with greater intention:

1. Having scheduled periods every day that affords me personal time for prayer, reflection, and meditation. I like to begin and end my day with these practices. In the morning it helps me to ensure I am going into my day with faith in the forefront and rejuvenated from the meditation. At night it allows me to decompress and reflect on the day. 

2. A daily practice of gratitude, where I reflect on the things that I am grateful for in the past day—this increases my sense of joy, creates greater inner peace because I acknowledge all the good things in my life and do not become overly focused on the difficult or stressful parts. It also increases my mindfulness and presence in the moment during my day because I am paying attention and looking to appreciate those joyful experiences.

3. Trying to frame my days, regardless of whether I am making dinner for my family, homeschooling my boys, taking part in a devotional, or serving at a food pantry, in the context of service and worship, “…strive that your actions day by day may be beautiful prayers.”—‘Abdu’l-Bahá

4. Seeking opportunities to be of service to others. For our family this has involved volunteering for organizations like food banks and shelters, and being actively involved in community building in our neighborhood, through hosting devotional gatherings that enrich and inspire, being involved in the junior youth empowerment program, teaching children’s classes and taking part in study circles. It is also being aware of opportunities to do something for someone in the moment that will make their day a little better or a little easier (sometimes that can be a simple as a smile).

5. Taking care of my health through exercise, eating well, sleep, and rest—if you want to serve your family and community, you must take care of your health and well-being, in all aspects—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

You should not neglect your health, but consider it the means which enables you to serve. It—the body—is like a horse which carries the personality and spirit, and as such should be well cared for so it can do its work! You should certainly safeguard your nerves, and force yourself to take time, and not only for prayer meditation, but for real rest and relaxation.—Shoghi Effendi

6. Setting myself personal goals, not only for work, but for my personal growth and service activities; and then periodically reflecting on where I stand in relation to achieving them.

How do you ensure that you live a life of intention?