Note 048
I heard a line in a video recently that made me stop and think.
And you know when something makes you stop scrolling because it hits a little differently?
This was one of those moments.
The woman in the video was talking about helping women become the best version of themselves, and she said:
“It’s time to stop intending and start doing.”
That one made me sit with myself for a minute.
Because over the last few years, we’ve heard a lot about being intentional.
Be intentional about your life.
Set your weekly intentions.
Set your monthly intentions.
Be intentional about your relationships.
Be intentional about your health.
Be intentional about your goals.
And honestly?
I bought into it, too.
I understood the concept.
I actually liked it.
There’s something beautiful about deciding what you want your life to look and feel like instead of just moving through your days on autopilot.
But then she said something that made me look at the whole idea differently.
She pointed out that a lot of people have intentions without action.
And that may be part of the reason we’re still in the same place we’ve been saying we want to leave.
An Intention Is Not the Same Thing as a Plan
Let’s be clear.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with setting intentions.
The problem is when the intention becomes the accomplishment.
We say:
“This is the year I’m going to get healthy.”
Great.
But what happens next?
Do we buy the groceries?
Do we plan the meals?
Do we drink more water?
Do we start walking?
Do we make an appointment with the doctor or nutritionist if that’s appropriate?
Do we actually change something about our daily routine?
Because saying “I intend to eat healthier” doesn’t put a vegetable on the plate.
The intention has to eventually become an action.
If your intention is to get fit…
Then what are you actually doing?
Maybe you start walking.
Maybe you lift weights.
Maybe you reduce your portions.
Maybe you take the stairs.
Maybe you find a workout you actually enjoy enough to keep doing.
You don’t have to transform your entire life on Monday.
But something has to happen.
You have to move.
If Your Intention Is a Better Career…
This one really made me think.
How many people say:
“I really want a better job.”
“I want to make more money.”
“I want to do something different.”
“I want to use my degree.”
“I want to work somewhere that values me.”
Those are all valid desires.
But eventually, the intention needs a calendar.
Update the résumé.
Look at your experience differently.
Apply for jobs.
Reach out to people in the field.
Learn the skill you’re missing.
Take the class.
Build the portfolio.
Make the phone call.
Send the email.
Apply again after the rejection.
Because “I want a better career” is an intention.
Updating your résumé and submitting the application is action.
And action is what starts creating movement.
Social Media Has Given Us a Lot of Beautiful Language
This is the part that really got me.
Because social media has introduced us to so many words that sound wonderful.
Intentional.
Aligned.
Healing.
Soft life.
Boundaries.
Growth.
Purpose.
Manifesting.
Protecting your peace.
And I’m not saying any of these concepts are bad.
They can be incredibly meaningful.
But sometimes I wonder if we have gotten so comfortable talking about the language of change that we forget to actually change.
We can buy the journal.
Write the affirmation.
Create the vision board.
Set the intention.
Make the Pinterest board.
Watch the motivational video.
Save the Instagram post.
Screenshot the quote.
And then…
do absolutely nothing different.
Sometimes consuming information feels like progress.
It feels productive.
We’re thinking about the goal.
We’re researching the goal.
We’re planning the goal.
We’re talking about the goal.
But thinking about doing something and actually doing it are two very different experiences.
You Can’t Intend Yourself Into a Different Life
At some point, something has to change in your behavior.
If you want to save money, you have to actually change something about how you’re spending or earning.
If you want deeper friendships, you may have to reach out and make plans.
If you want to read more, you have to open the book.
If you want to write, you have to sit down and write.
If you want to start a business, eventually you have to create something and put it in front of people.
If you want to declutter your house, eventually you have to pick up the first item and decide what stays.
If you want to improve your relationship, eventually you have to have the conversation.
If you want to become more confident, eventually you have to do something that requires you to use your voice.
**The intention starts the conversation.
The action continues it.**
And Maybe We Need Smaller Actions
I think this is important because “start doing” can sound intimidating.
We don’t need to completely reinvent our lives overnight.
Maybe the problem isn’t that you aren’t doing enough.
Maybe you’re trying to do everything at once.
Instead of:
“I’m going to completely transform my health.”
Try:
“I’m going for a 20-minute walk today.”
Instead of:
“I’m going to find my dream career.”
Try:
“I’m updating my résumé tonight.”
Instead of:
“I’m going to get my entire house organized.”
Try:
“I’m cleaning out one drawer.”
Instead of:
“I’m going to start writing.”
Try:
“I’m writing 500 words today.”
Instead of:
“I’m going to get my finances together.”
Try:
“I’m looking at my last month’s spending tonight.”
Small action is still action.
And sometimes one small action creates enough momentum to make the next one easier.
So What Are You Intending?
This is the question I’ve been asking myself since I heard that line.
What have I been intending to do?
And more importantly…
What have I actually been doing?
Because those two answers may not always match.
Maybe you’ve been saying you want to get healthier for three years.
Maybe you’ve been saying you want to change careers for two years.
Maybe you’ve been saying you want to write the book.
Start the business.
Clean the house.
Save the money.
Go back to school.
Make new friends.
Take better care of yourself.
Have the difficult conversation.
Leave the situation.
Start the thing.
And perhaps the question isn’t whether you have good intentions.
Perhaps the question is:
What action would make your intention real?
That’s where the work begins.
The Overthinker’s Reminder
I’m a big believer in thinking things through.
Obviously.
But there comes a point when thinking becomes another form of waiting.
You can plan forever.
You can research forever.
You can make another list.
You can buy another notebook.
You can save another motivational video.
You can wait until you’re more confident.
You can wait until the timing is perfect.
You can wait until you know exactly what you’re doing.
But sometimes you simply have to start.
Not perfectly.
Not fearlessly.
Not with everything figured out.
Just start.
Because your intention may tell you where you want to go.
Your actions are what actually take you there.
A Note for Today
Take a look at the intentions you’ve been setting.
Your health.
Your finances.
Your career.
Your relationships.
Your home.
Your creativity.
Your personal growth.
Then ask yourself:
What am I actually doing about it?
Not what am I thinking about.
Not what am I planning.
Not what am I saving on Pinterest.
Not what am I saying I’m going to do someday.
What am I doing?
And if the answer is “not much,” don’t beat yourself up.
Just pick one thing.
One phone call.
One application.
One walk.
One page.
One drawer.
One conversation.
One meal.
One hour.
One step.
Because you don’t have to do everything today.
But eventually…
you have to do something.
Stop intending.
Start doing.
And let your actions become the evidence that you’re serious about the life you’re trying to build.
Until the next note,
Your Resident Overthinker 🤎