inspiring joy filled living
Intentional Living: What It Means and Why It Matters
October 8, 2025
A Seeking Roses Intentional Living Series
Lately, I’ve been thinking about what it really means to live on purpose.
Not just getting through the week or racing from one commitment to the next, but actually choosing the kind of life I want to build.
Maybe you’ve felt it too — that quiet tug to slow down, simplify, and start living more intentionally.
This post begins our Seeking Roses Intentional Living Series — a gentle, month-long journey toward more peace, focus, and joy. What better to talk about this Fall than living more intentionally?
Over the next few weeks, we’ll talk about
- managing your time without losing your mind,
- simplifying your home and calendar,
- setting boundaries with grace,
- resting without guilt, and
- creating deeper, more meaningful relationships.
Each post builds on the last, helping us trade busyness for purpose — one intentional choice at a time.
So grab a cup of coffee and let’s do this! 🌸
✨ What Is Intentional Living?
Intentional living means choosing your life instead of reacting to it. It’s about aligning your days, habits, and choices with your deepest values and priorities.
It’s waking up and asking,
“What matters most today?”
Then letting the answer guide how you spend your time, energy, and attention.
Intentional living isn’t reserved for minimalists or mindfulness experts. It’s for anyone who’s tired of feeling scattered, rushed, or disconnected — for anyone who wants their days to feel full of meaning again. For me, intentional living means leaning into my priorities and being aware of the moments I do have.
A perfect example is driving my girls to practice. I’d often fall into the trap of thinking about all the things I had to do, things like: figuring out dinner, which errands I still need to do, or reviewing the schedule with a kid. Now I am trying my best to be present. To take the time to really listen to my girls and hear what they are saying (and what they aren’t, both are so important!).
My priority is to be a mom who listens to her kids and knows their hearts. In order to do so, I need to be patient with my own thoughts and to do lists, and be present in those moments when they are willing to talk to me, even if it’s just 15 minutes on the way to the field.
💕 Why It Matters
When we live intentionally, our days start to feel more like ours. We stop saying yes out of guilt or fear. We stop filling every moment with noise. And we start noticing the small joys — morning sunlight, laughter around the dinner table, the quiet satisfaction of progress (not perfection).
Here’s what happens when you live with intention:
- Clarity replaces chaos. You know where your time is going — and why.
- Joy sneaks back in. Gratitude and presence start to outweigh hurry and hustle.
- You stop comparing. Because you’re building a life that fits you.
- Peace grows. Your choices finally align with your values.
🌸 How to Start Living More Intentionally
- Start the day with gratitude. Before checking your phone, write down 5 things you are grateful for.
- Simplify your schedule. Just because it fits in your calendar doesn’t mean it fits your purpose.
- Create space for what matters. Even if it’s grabbing dinner after a long day, be present when you are together. During the week, carve out creative time because it all adds up. 10 minutes of focused time matters.
- Be mindful of your inputs. Choose what you watch, read, and listen to with care.
- Celebrate progress, not perfection. Direction matters more than speed.
Living with intention doesn’t mean all the distractions and busyness go away. Our days are still packed with sports, school, homework, volunteering, work, (and more sports!!) along with all the daily chores of life that keep the household running (if only the laundry fairy would stick around!).
What I’m saying is the things we can control, let’s do something about them. Saying no becomes a super power when we know what our priorities are.
And for the things we must do, how do we find purpose even in those moments? Let’s stack up our time against our goals and see what fits best. Can we make calls while we take a walk? Can we batch certain tasks together? Can we ask for help? Can we order groceries and pick them up instead of spending an hour at the store? Can we listen to a podcast or book while we do the chores? Can we practice deep work to be more productive? I’m excited to talk more about this in the next post!
☀️ Final Thoughts
Intentional living is a daily practice — not a destination. Each choice is a brushstroke on the canvas of our days. When we slow down long enough to choose with purpose, beauty begins to unfold in unexpected ways.
Living with intention simply means having a priority list of what matters most to you, at this stage of life, and leaning into all the ways you can maximize your time.
Right now, my greatest priorities are:
+ to be present with my hubby and kids
+ create meaningful work
+ exercise regularly
+ eat as healthy as possible (an occasional margarita might sneak in once in awhile, life is definitely better with Mexican food in it!)
+ spend time with family and friends
+ church and intentional time with God
+ try to keep the chaos of the chores to a minimum!
When I look at the hours in my day, week, month…I stack up my time against my list of priorities. If something doesn’t match, I’m giving myself full permission to say no (guilt-free!) even if it is an amazing opportunity or for a great cause because every yes carries an opportunity cost.
What is your list of priorities? How do they match up against your time right now? What is one small change you could make to bring better alignment? Let’s do this together!
🌸 Coming Next Week
Unlocking Time Management — Doing Less, Living More
How slowing down and focusing on what matters most can actually make you more productive — not less.
🪷 Joy doesn’t wait for perfect — it grows in the small, intentional choices we make every day.
With Love, Jen
