Intentional living

Intentional living is any lifestyle based on an individual or group's conscious attempts to live according to their values and beliefs. These can include lifestyles based on religious or ethical values, as well as coaching, personal transformation, and leadership training.

Characteristics

Steps

Intentional living requires one to be aware of one's fundamental beliefs and to be willing to make an effort to have their behavior reflect these beliefs in a form of integrity in relation to his or her conscience and environment. In some cases, such changes are drastic enough that like-minded individuals group together in intentional communities.

According to the writer Joshua Becker, the steps 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 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 cohousing, ethical living, frugal living, moral community, simple living, sustainable living as well as many religious lifestyles.

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 appropriate technology, conservation, ecology, environmentalism, humanism, humanitarianism, and socially responsible investing.

Notes and references

See also

• Car-free movement
• Eco-communalism
• Ecovillage
• Orthodox Mennonites
• Noah Hoover Mennonite
• The Minimalists
• Veganism
• World Brotherhood Colonies