Intention is Everything
In my last post, I shared about my recent move to San Diego. I often draw from my own personal experiences as a metaphor for business. After all, how we do one thing is how we do everything.
As my husband, Brandon, and I continue the unpacking process, I’ve discovered more gold in lessons I would otherwise find challenging.
My husband and I were very excited about our new house. But we knew that the great rent and location came with new considerations. It meant that we would be living in half of the square footage of our Berkeley apartment.
We moved all of our belongings down with us because we weren’t sure what would fit or be useful. This left us with a big question: What belongings did we want with us in 500 square feet?
Intention is Everything
It all came down to intention. We had limited storage and space, and as we unpacked each item, we had to consciously question if it was useful and had a place in our hearts. There was something quite joyous about this new intention, and it forced us to clarify the impact of our environment.
Most of us live pretty fast-paced lives—juggling appointments and to-dos, finding very little time for rest and pause. Had we moved into a house that was the same size or larger, it would have been very easy for my husband and me to simply transfer all our belongings, stuff things into shelves and forget about them.
But our quaint little cottage forced us into a more meditative, and enjoyable, approach. Now when we walk into our home everything has its place—everything belongs and we have confirmed our desire to have it with us.
Your Environment Impacts Your Success
Our environment impacts us more than we know. I often tell my distracted or overwhelmed clients that shifting their environment will wire new neurons in their brain and jump start motivation and creativity.
Ask yourself: Does your environment inspire you? Are you intentional about what you allow in your environment?
This not only includes personal belongings but friendships, partnerships, and clients. If not aligned, your environment can drain your energy and distract you from your bigger purpose—even create stress.
Your Intention in Business
When someone starts a business it’s easy to get caught up in the nuts and bolts: the marketing, the website, or client acquisition.
But first we need to ask ourselves, “What is my intention? What is my bigger mission here?” Why do we want the things we want? And how can we remove what no longer serves us?
My invitation to you this week is to look at where you can slow down. Pay more attention to the small things around you.
An Intention Exercise
Here is a short exercise that may help. Start with your office space, wherever you find that you do your work. It could be your dining room table or you could have a desk in a guest room.
Sit in the chair where you do most of your work and slowly scan around the area. Start from the left and—like reading a book—slowly move all the way to the right.
As you do, notice what’s in your environment. Notice the feelings that come up in your body when you see those things. Do they inspire you? Or create anxiety or overwhelm? Do you need those items? Do they serve your highest good as a business owner?
If the answer is no, it is time to purge. if you’re unsure, get a second opinion. An unbiased friend can help you create a minimalist work environment to be fully supportive of what you’re doing.
Does Intention Bring You Joy?
I’m pulling a page from the book, The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, a huge influence in my journey to minimalism. In this book, Marie Kondo teaches you to declutter by asking yourself one question: Does this bring me joy?
When creating an entrepreneur lifestyle, we take on more responsibility and do not have time for distractions. To prevent burnout and overwhelm, we must be intentional about what we allow into our mental and physical space.
Our business depends on it because we are our business. Are you surrounding yourself with unnecessary “shoulds” or with what you WANT? I hope this inspires you to take back your power in your environment, and make it something that supports you and your entrepreneurial journey.
p.s. Having a great office environment and intention doesn’t replace having a clear business strategy. I’m giving away 5 FREE Business Breakthrough Strategy Sessions. If you are interested in seeing how you can apply for a spot, email me at stephanie@trbe.org [5 spots expire March 1, 2019]
