I’m Intentionally Intending a Purposeful New Year

This time last year was an awesome time for me. I was treasuring in my heart my intentions to quit my full time job and be a full time entrepreneur. I say that I treasured it in my heart because there were very few people that I was sharing my decision with at that time.

You see I’d actually ‘made the decision’ in early December – but after much consideration I decided to hold onto my decision until after the holidays so that my boss didn’t have my impending departure on his mind all through Christmas. I planned to tell him immediately after the Christmas break – but a big event and a church funeral delayed the telling for another two weeks. It was torturous to say the least. By the time that I was finally able to sit down with him and spill the new it came out like a cork from a champaigne bottle – with laughter and excitement!

The search for my replacement was two months long – but I didn’t mind the time at all. I was so enjoying the freedom of having finally shared my decision. There is something so amazing about being purposeful. When you make a decision and move intentionally towards what you’ve chosen… it’s energizing.

On the other hand – wavering between two thoughts for months or years on end… that is exhausting.

How do you make decisions when you’re not positive about where you want to be a year from now or even five years from now? You think, maybe I should do this – but then if I do this other thing it will have been for nothing. So maybe I should just do that – but then what if I do go ahead and do that other thing? Then I’ll be having to do this… (can anybody relate?)

These aimless and conflicting thoughts prattle around my brain – bumping into each other and staring each other down. And because I haven’t made a decision either way – I end up doing nothing at all about any of them.

THAT – has to be brought to an end.

I am a very intentional person in most ways but somehow I’ve taken on a bit of a Charlie Brown personality this year. ‘Wishy Washy’ Lucy would say. And I’ve had enough of it.

I’m tired of wishing for one thing but worrying about giving up something else.

I’m sick of dreaming in one direction but living in another.

I’m ready to make some more positive, resolute changes in my life.

If you don’t move towards the vision that you see in your mind for your future you’ll end up living forever in the ‘someday I’ll do it’ mindset.

So, I sat down today and I created a visual (I love visuals!) to represent ‘What is important to me?’

On the left, in the yellow area, I’ve listed what it important to me relationally. On the right, in the green area, I’ve shown what’s important to me long range for my business. In the middle, I’ve shown what’s important to me personally at this time in my life.

I’m printing this visual out and placing it before me in a few key places. My office wall, above the kitchen sink, next to the bathroom mirror, on my bedroom closet door, in my car, in my wallet… and anywhere else I think of ;)

I want to keep these important ‘Core’ concerns before my eyes and in my thoughts so that as I make small decisions in my day to day life – I make them with the end goals in mind.

That will help me to live more Intentionally in 2007.

So what are my first few important intentions/decisions?

1. My house is going on the market as fast as I can get it listed.
2. I am sticking on Weight Watchers (I’m a month and a week into it and have lost 18 pounds so far!)
3. I am slowing but surely packing up my house, throwing away clutter and getting things ready for a move.
4. I’m hunting apartments downstate around my family – focusing on the Portland area for now,
5. I’m going to tell friends and family about my intentions/decisions – Today!

Evening Update! 

I told my closest friend by telephone and emailed my close family the news :)

I called my realtor and he came right over for a walk through.  He’ll be back on Friday with numbers and papers to sign. Hurray!  Progress already!