Intentional Living – The Challenge

I have been inspired recently to live a more intentional life. What that means to me is that whatever I decide to do, whatever life throw at me, whatever I choose to do, I need to do it intentionally. Intentional living is when you consciously choose to do whatever it is with the intention of throwing yourself at it wholeheartedly, as best you can!

I decided to launch the #IntentionalLivingChallenge on Instagram and encourage people to join in with the challenge. It has been so inspiring to hear everyone else’s interpretation of the themes I set for each day.

What Is The Intentional Living Challenge about?

I had such fun reading everyone’s interpretations of the themes. I have decided to share my favourite from each day. Now, a couple of people started late or fell behind, because you know … life! But if you get a chance, please go to Instagram and follow the #intentionallivingchallenge hashtag to see all the awesome contributions to the little intentional living challenge I set out.

Day 1 we kicked off with the theme of Kindness

To me, being kind is one of those things that we just always want to pass on. I need to teach my kids to be kind. I need them to know that kindness is one of the qualities that makes you a good person, a respected person, a kind person.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmIU4SYFrf4/?hl=en&taken-by=momoftwolittlegirls

What was really great was that of all the awesome posts that went up, there were two profiles that linked up the same thing, differently.

This one by Tora Grace of the Apple Watch face saying “Be Kind”.

And this other by Jewels Jean Jam both with the same watch face reminder. It’s clearly a hit.

Day 2 challenged everyone to share their Health & Wellness intentions.

I have been trying to up my game with my own personal health and wellness. I’m never going to be a competitive athlete or anything like that, but I realise now that I was living quite a lazy physical life in South Africa.

Soon after getting back to the UK the girls were asking me if we could walk to school instead of driving all the time. I was very reluctant. After the first few times I decided that if this was what we were going to do then I wanted to do it with intention. I wanted to track my steps, my distance etc. So I bought a Fitbit Charge 2. It tracks my steps, distance, the number of flights of stairs I do every day (p.s. – we live in a three storey house). It even tracks my sleep pattern and women’s monthly cycle if I want to – which I don’t.

I soon realised that I was comfortably doing 10,000 steps a day. Unfortunately I’ve also realised that I’m still picking up weight. That would probably have more to do with the fact that my appetite is out of control. Anyway, when I’m finished procrastinating, then I will tackle that issue.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmKo-2HFjzp/?hl=en&taken-by=momoftwolittlegirls

My special blogging friend, Charlene from High Heels & Fairy Tales shared her idea of Health and Wellness with this picture. She is my closest mirror blogger bestie … we think the same, love the same things, and blog with the same intention. Our values are the same, and she will always hold a special place in my heart as the first ever blogger I connected with and met IRL! We will be friends forever, across the distance, and blogs or no blogs, as moms of daughters, we get each other! This is her idea of Health & Wellness, the exact same way I love to drink my water, except I have lemon in mine! You inspire me my friend, and you’re like my crutch to keep going!

Day 3’s theme of Self Love was an important one … not more so than the others, but …

For me it was important for everyone to understand the difference between Health & Wellness, and Self Love. Sometime people can misconstrue the two and think they are the same thing. To me, they aren’t. Health & Wellness is about your physical wellbeing. Self Love is more about how we take care of ourselves, how we manage our self-care intentionally.

As a Stay At Home Mom and wife, I find that I almost always put everyone else’s needs above my own. Self love is reminding yourself that you are entitled to do the things that make YOU happy too. By loving yourself you will be better able to take care of your family too. It all contributes to your emotional well-being, intentionally loving yourself.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmN9B6al0RQ/?hl=en&taken-by=momoftwolittlegirls

One of the best posts linked up for this theme was my a very special lady, who became the Christina to my Meredith in friendship terms. She taught me so much! If there is anyone who is completely unashamed and fully embraces the idea of Self Love, it’s this lady! Not only is she a mom of four kids, an inspirational blogger at Mom Just Saying, but also the creator, designer, model, and all round awesomeness that is her own brand – Muppie Lounge! Next month she is climbing Mount Kilimanjaro! I know right!! WHAT can’t she do?!  Anyway, if there is anyone who embraces the who idea of unapologetic intentional Self Love, it’s this empowering and inspirational lady!

Day 4 – Motivation. What intentionally motivates you?

Simple for me – my girls. They are my motivation. I intentionally choose to consider them in all that I do. They motivate me on my darkest days, and are a constant reminder to be the best I can be because it’s all for them.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmQgPO2ltPE/?hl=en&taken-by=momoftwolittlegirls

Blogger, Madam Shade shared this emotionally charged picture of the two people in her life that motivate her every day.

These two humans are my entire world, they keep me striving to be the best possible person I can be in this life
Everyday I fail, but they are my reason to pick myself up again and try harder

The whole point of motivation, is exactly that, to pick yourself up and to always try harder! Always!

Day 5 Inspiration

I wanted to know what everyone’s inspiration was that intentionally drives them to do better, every day. Now Inspiration & Motivation are both similar things too. Inspiration is more about what it is that inspires your creativity, your passion, your purpose. Motivation is more the ‘why’.

Check out my post for what inspires me.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmS9ZpUF97k/?hl=en&taken-by=momoftwolittlegirls

This amazing lady’s inspiration is her son. I believe that is true of all parents. Her son Tristan is her world. She lives in Cape Town (one of the most uniquely beautiful places on earth), and her zest for life really speaks to me. I love that she has participated in this challenge wholeheartedly and with such passion. I really feel like I got to know her so much better and I can’t wait to see what awesome stuff she achieves over the next few years as an honest, kind and inspirational Mommy Blogger. You have to check out My Journey As A Mom.

The theme for Day 6 is Family

I never get my whole family of 5 in one picture. Never. Unless is a professional family photo shoot, but that’s not realistic. If there is one thing I have learnt over the past week it is that you have to get yourself in the pictures! You have to! I am always the one behind the camera, always the one to snap pics of my loved ones. It’s always me taking pictures.

Living an intentional life as a mother holding her family together, means consciously considering my family’s ever-changing needs, intentionally.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmWK1mwAuTl/?hl=en&tagged=intentionallivingchallenge

Here’s another perfect example of what family means – and sometimes we do get to choose our family, with intention.

Day 7 Travel

Travel is my therapy …

I spent hours trying to find the best picture to sum up the thing that sets my soul on fire. But there were so many! I eventually settled on this one because it highlights the fact that traveling off the beaten track to look out the window and see the natural beauty of wherever I am is the kind of travel that feeds my soul. All our adventures and travels are done with the intention of appreciating where we are and what we’re seeing. It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey. Unless that journey is an 18 hour flight … that I don’t enjoy! lol

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmYgKcPgi0-/?hl=en&taken-by=momoftwolittlegirls

Here is another beautiful picture from Joanne & Tamarin. This is exactly the kind of sights I love to see when I think of travelling.

The Intentional Living Challenge Community

Thanks to everyone who has joined in the Intentional Living Challenge so far. Sometimes these challenges are hard to  finish, but I appreciate everyone who contributed, even if it was only once. Shout out to the everyone who joined in:

Muppie Lounge   Mom Just Saying   Madam Shade  Joanne & Tamarin  Tora Grace   My Journey As A Mom  Mamma Chef Jozi   JessV83 MissFitJo  Tonic & Tiaras 

Just because the initial challenge week has come and gone, I love that some people are picking up the challenge when they come across it and intentionally deciding to complete it in their own time. Isn’t that what it’s all about – intentional living. Intentionally considering your life and what your take on the themes is. If you do decide to start the challenge, please tag me in your posts so that I can follow your #IntentionalLivingChallenge journey.