Intentional: Done with intention or on purpose; intended; of or pertaining to intention or purpose; pertaining to the capacity of the mind to refer to an existent or nonexistent object; pointing beyond itself, as consciousness or a sign.
According to science and research, most of us live 95% to 97% of our lives on autopilot . . . we don't consciously think about many of the things we are doing each day.
Some of you might be surprised by that number.
Let's reflect on this for a moment.
-You got up this morning.
-Did you follow the same routine you had done for months and years, not varying it at all?
-Did you even think about what you did first thing?
Just this morning, my sequence of events happened as it does every single morning: Get up, visit the washroom, take a multivitamin, turn on podcast, shave, shower, and dress. Breakfast 9 times out of 10 is comprised of consuming the same items in identical order.
Where is the intentionality in our routines if we don't even think about what we are doing anymore? Have you ever arrived at a location in your vehicle, then thought how did I get here? Some of you drove to work today and did not think about your route.
The point is that most of our life is lived according to our autopilot our subconscious mind rather than through any intentionality (proactive thinking) on our part!
To be intentional is to knowingly choose your direction and shake up the routine on occasion to get your conscious mind working.
There are some who teach that we should have routines to lessen the burden of all the choices we have to make and there is some truth to that strategy.
But what happens when we allow our routines to run our lives, rather than intentionally engaging them? Autopilot costs us lost opportunities or it may take us completely off course, landing us at a destination we have not envisioned or planned. That happens when we don't consciously or intentionally take over from our autopilot a sin of omission.
Your life can be negatively affected by what you don't do as much as what you do.
A few years ago, I took charge of my health and wellness, which had fallen into disrepair. After I made the choice to get intentional with my health, I set a new direction, changed my routine, and lost nearly 40 pounds. Scroll ahead 3 years to where I injured myself playing hockey, which forced me to miss my workouts for a couple of months. I gained 10 pounds right away and didn't return to working out.
It took a new level of intentionality on my part to get back on track. I can credit my wife Brenda for some friendly competition she secretly trained and surprised me by running a 10 K race earlier this year. Yes, I was proud of her but my competitive side said, if she can do this, so can I!
So a couple months ago, I stepped up my efforts and began to follow a 10 K training schedule. The workout had something different every day, which made it challenging and far more enjoyable than repeating the same work-out routine each session. My new enthusiasm gave me important insight my motivation to work-out prior to the 10 K training plan had reduced significantly. I now realize I was resisting because I was bored and stuck in a routine (autopilot).
Just last month, I competed and completed in my first 10 K race because I chose to be intentional!
Too much routine and autopilot responses can lead to our becoming stale and to outcomes we don't really want.
Review the Action Steps to confirm possible ways you can shift from autopilot living to being intentional in all areas of your life.
Action Steps:
Upon reflection, what percentage of your life is on autopilot?
1. Which of your routines, responses, and activities are on autopilot? Make a quick list of those items.
2. What do you want to change to become more intentional in your life? Think about all the areas of your life personal, physical, relationships, financial, career, recreation, friends, social, spiritual, mental, emotional, and anything else that is important to you.
3. One way to shift behaviors is to map out a new destination. What new outcomes or goals will help overcome your autopilot?
4. To help you on this journey, switch-up a regular routine to get yourself off autopilot. Drive a different route, do things in a new order, try something new, phone new friends, and so on. Force yourself to get out of the rut so your mind must become intentional with each new step.
5. To be more intentional, you must know yourself. Complete CRG s Values Preference Indicator (VPI) and Personal Style Indicator (PSI) to get to know yourself better . . . so you can be intentional!
6. Read Why Aren t You More Like Me?"!. It provides a roadmap for understanding yourself and others. You will learn about your natural tolerance for risk and be better able to play to your strengths.
7. Consider using My Source EXPERIENCE Journal to find your life purpose and to help you live your life intentionally.
8. Hey, make this fun! Enjoy the ride of turning off your autopilot and flying intentionally in your life.
Until next time, keep Living On Purpose!
Ken Keis
Ken Keis, MBA, is considered a foremost global authority on the way assessment strategies and processes increase and multiply your success rate. He also has co-created CRG’s proprietary development models and written over 3 million words of content for 40 business training programs and 400+ articles. Ken is an expert on assisting individuals, families, teams, and organizations to realize their full potential and to live On Purpose!
An internationally known author, speaker, and consultant, in the past 24 years, Ken has conducted more than 2500 presentations and 10,000 hours of consulting and coaching. His first book My Source Experience Journal – A Personal Discovery Process for Those Who Want to Lead a Passionate and Fulfilling Life assist others to discover their purpose. His second book Why Aren’t You More Like Me? Discover the Secrets to Understanding Self and Others has been endorsed by both Kenneth Blanchard and Jim Kouzes.
His experience covers all areas of development—career, business, sales,personal, professional, purpose, wellness, leadership, communications, team-building, HR and organizational. He has served clients from Cape Town, London, Tokyo, Sydney, Vienna, and Brussels, to LA, Miami, Vancouver, Toronto, and Mexico City.
He is President and CEO of CRG Consulting Resource Group International, Inc., founded in 1979. Many professionals herald CRG as the Number One global resource center for Personal and Professional Development. Over 1 million people in 30 countries and 12 languages have engaged CRG processes to Enrich Their Lives. In fact, professionals are so impressed with CRG processes, 80% switch to CRG resources—no matter what they have been using or how long they have been using them. In this industry, that is unparalleled success.
Organizations such as the American Management Association, Justice Institute of BC, International Coaching Federation, and Adult and Career Development Network have embraced and endorsed CRG resources over others on the market.
CRG clients include Boeing, Chrysler, Honda, London Drugs, AT&T, GTE, Manulife Financials, European Union Center for Leadership Development, universities, career centers, and thousands of HR professionals, coaches, individuals and small business owners around the globe.
Called one of the most passionate presenters you will ever experience, Ken is also an Internet Radio Host, TV and Radio Guest, and Seminar Speaker. His focus is sharing CRG’s unique developmental models to assist individuals, families, teams, and organizations to realize their potential and purpose in the emotional, mental, psychological, intellectual, interpersonal, physical, financial, and spiritual areas of life.