Intention

Choosing intention when life speeds up

How can it already be the second half of August? Here in the northern hemisphere, especially in my area, it’s already CNE time… a sure sign that summer is winding down. I usually take the change of seasons in stride, but this year feels different. The days are moving quickly, the to-do lists keep growing, and everything seems to be happening all at once.

In the middle of all that motion, it’s easy to lose touch with ourselves. We show up, do our best, and keep things going, but inside we may feel scattered, stretched, or simply tired.In moments like these, what we often need most is not to push harder. It is to pause. To get quiet enough to hear what is really going on within. To remember what matters. To move through life not just with momentum, but with meaning. moves fast. Most days, we’re just trying to keep up, juggling work, family, responsibilities, and everything in between. It’s easy to get swept up in the momentum and forget to check in with ourselves. We go from task to task, role to role, doing what’s expected without stopping to ask: Is this how I want to show up?Is this aligned with what matters most to me?

Intentionality doesn’t require a title or a big life change. It starts in the quiet moments when we pause, breathe, and listen. It’s in those pauses that we reconnect with who we are underneath the noise. Reflection helps us notice where we’re out of step with our values and gently invites us back. It doesn’t have to be dramatic. Sometimes it’s just asking, What do I need right now? What kind of energy do I want to bring into this conversation, this work environment, this classroom, this home?

Setting intentions is less about goals and more about direction. It’s about choosing how we want to move through the world, even on the hard days. When we’re connected to ourselves, we show up differently. We speak more clearly. We listen more openly. We respond with more patience. And that has an impact on the people around us, and on the kind of life we’re creating.

This kind of self-connection isn’t something reserved for a few. It’s available to anyone willing to pause and pay attention. And in a world that constantly pulls us outward, that pause is powerful. It reminds us who we are, and who we’re becoming.

So if life feels like it’s moving too fast, start small. Take a breath. Take a moment. Even a short pause can shift something inside. In that space, you might remember what really matters to you, or simply remember yourself. And from that place, you can begin again, with intention. Not perfectly. Just more consciously, more aligned. Because how we show up in the everyday moments is what shapes our days, our relationships, and ultimately, our lives.

Hugs,

Janet

(Note: in addition to my Instagram account janetfournier_listeningroom, (which focuses on mental well being from a psychotherapeutic lens) I invite you to visit and follow my newest little Instagram site: pauseitive.edge where I will be posting little reminders to pause, lead with attention and intention, and to savour this one beautiful life.