Intentional living
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Intentional living is any
Characteristics
History
In the first chapter of Christopher Isherwood's My Guru and his Disciple, written in 1940, the writer tells of conversations with Gerald Heard concerning Heard's spiritual values. In their conversations, Heard explains that he follows a lifestyle called "intentional living" (Isherwood put the phrase in quotes). Heard said that one of the hardest parts of the discipline was to be aware of one's own pretensions. "You may rid yourself of all worldly addictions and aversions… the most deadly pretension may raise its head. You may begin to believe you are a spiritually superior person…"
Steps
Intentional living requires one to be aware of one's fundamental beliefs and to be willing to make an effort to have one's behavior reflect these beliefs, in a form of integrity in relation to one's conscience and environment. In some cases, such changes[clarification needed] are drastic enough that like-minded individuals group together in intentional communities.
According to the writer Joshua Becker, the steps involved in adopting intentional living can be summarised as:[1]
- Realise that life is made of choices. Attitudes and decisions do not have to be determined by our past but can be chosen.
- We are surrounded by a culture. We can determine[clarification needed] its direction and see if we want the same or not.
- Know who we are and what we want (to do, communicate, and contribute). Give time to our passions.
Aims
Some examples of intentional living include
While not necessarily representing distinct or actual lifestyles, many themes and areas of human interest, activity, and study exist that contribute to intentional living. Examples include
See also
- Car-free movement
- Civic engagement
- Communism
- Eco-communalism
- Ecovillage
- FIRE movement
- Ideal (ethics)
- Incarnation
- Joie de vivre
- Liberty
- Life stance
- Mindfulness
- Missional living
- Noah Hoover Mennonite
- Orthodox Mennonites
- Personal life
- Public participation
- Real freedom
- Self-actualization
- Self-expression values
- Self-fulfillment
- Simple living
- Veganism
- Volunteering
- World Brotherhood Colonies
References
- ISBN 9780764486609).
- ^ "Life Among The Bruderhof". The American Conservative. Retrieved 2017-12-14.
- "All you need to know about the Bruderhof community". inews.co.uk. Retrieved 2019-10-26.
- ^ "The Community of St Anselm". The Community of St Anselm. Retrieved 2017-12-14.