Rise & Decide: Exploring the Power of Intentions

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Embracing the morning dilemma: Do I hit the pavement or hit snooze?

As the sun rises, so does the internal debate – should I lace up my shoes for a jog or stay cozied up in bed for a few rounds of snoozing? One morning, in the not too distant past, the struggle was real. I wanted to get more sleep because I hadn’t gotten a good night of quality sleep and it was gray outside, but I knew if I didn’t get my run in, I’d be frustrated with myself for the rest of the day (yup, totally shaming myself before even getting out of bed).

Contemplating this decision as I vacillated between sleep and awake, and then something deep inside whispered – what will serve me today?

I started to envision my day, weighing how I’d feel depending on which action I took. The day ahead was riddled with project work, reviewing payroll in detail, and facilitating meetings about the total rewards strategy for the upcoming year in the late afternoon. All those activities required energy and focus. So which activity will serve me in creating energy and focus? A jog or more sleep.

A jog.

I knew going for a jog wasn't about checking off a task; it was about reaping the benefits. Putting the energy in now would greatly reduce my stress and give me a sense of accomplishment no matter how the rest of the day turned out, which would energize me and keep me positive.

I got up, got dressed, and once I hit the pavement. Then magic happened. With each step, clarity. The frantic to-do list for the day faded into the background as my feet rhythmically hit the ground. It was meditative, bringing me into the present moment. It was one of the first times I had really connected with running, and I had been running for over a decade. What shifted?

After my jog, the day ahead felt pleasant. I felt accomplished so even the parts of the day where I ended up adding to my work’s to-do list, I felt unfazed. I had accomplished the one thing I needed. During the day, I held great conversations and was open to feedback and alternative ideas which would only deepen the impact of the total rewards discussions that were the ultimate deliverables. I felt a level of flow like nothing could touch or undo my day. While I sat on the couch to decompress from the day, I went back to the start – to that question, what will serve me? I wondered where the question had come from and how it seeped into my consciousness. I wondered what it would be like to ask this question each day (well, almost every day – nothing can ever be a 100% all the time).

I still don’t know where I first saw or heard the question or who shared it, but I am glad my subconsciousness recalled it in the waking hours. I can only summarize the experience by saying that bringing awareness to my intention was a powerful way of transforming my regular activities, which felt like a chore at this point, into an act of empowerment. Whether it's a morning jog or cleaning up the kitchen before bedtime, connecting with intention can fuel and create flow (like when Harry Potter drank the Felix Felicis “liquid luck” potion and everything just sorted worked themselves out without his effort).

To this day, I try to approach the mornings with a sense of curiosity of what will serve me best. Tuning in and becoming aware of what my body and mind need for the day ahead. Sometimes it's movement, other times it's rest. Asking myself, what will serve me best today? And then intentionally choosing allows me to connect and flow, bringing me closer to balance. 

Released April 2024