Updated 29.5.23: If there is one very important thing that I previously underestimated on my journeys of becoming my whole self, it’s the remarkable power of intention.
Only in recent years, did I discover that becoming all that I am meant to be, means living a purposeful life in which my goals, my choices, and my daily activities align with my core values and with the person I want to become.
It’s all about the journey of dynamic discovery toward a place of fulfilment and an unapologetic pursuit of purpose.
By the way, if you prefer to listen to this post as a podcast, please feel free to use the player below:
An interesting article I read recently, talked about the power of being intentional and it got me thinking about how I can create a more holistic Scholarly Mama life by living more intentionally every single day.
In this blog post, I want to talk about making a commitment to living a more purposeful Scholarly Mama life by being very intentional about how you spend not just your time, but also your energy.
I want to share the true power of taking deliberate steps on the journey of becoming a purposefully whole Scholarly Mama.
Plus, who said we had to wait for January to think about setting new goals or making positive changes anyways?
New Season, New Beginnings, New Intentions
Embarking on a ‘new’ path isn’t easy, even if it’s something as seemingly mundane as a new sense of purpose, a new way of thinking, a new career path, or even a new academic journey.
New beginnings, or seasons as I like to call them, as exciting as they might be, are often not without fear.
But a new season isn’t about righting all those ‘wrongs’ of the past or wallowing in regret or shame.
A new journey is so much more than this.
It’s also about feeling empowered to be more intentional about our actions. A time to assess what we really want out of this new start, the goals we wish to set for ourselves, the healthier habits we want to cultivate, and the steps we want to take toward discovering our greater purpose.
It’s a chance to embark on a new journey of becoming a more fulfilled Scholarly Mama.
As a wife and mum of three, I’ve found it challenging to keep up with academic life. Don’t get me wrong. I love learning and scholarship. I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to pursue my PhD, which I do not take for granted. But I’m also getting to know myself better on this journey… my values, my purpose, and my boundaries. I’ve seen firsthand how much happier and fulfilled I feel when I am intentional about dedicating time and energy to the things that really matter to me.
It’s been a mindset shift.
The Quiet, Internal Power of Intention
I’ve witnessed how the intense academic pressures can leave Scholarly Mamas burdened and overwhelmed.
I’ve experienced it myself.
But in order to really transform your Scholarly Mama journey, it begins with re-framing your thinking, which in turn, will give you much more clarity on the vision you have for your life.
As I mentioned in this Instagram post, I used to think that changing my life vision required some huge, momentous declaration. I accept that a mindset shift is both unconventional and bold. But what I didn’t expect was how quiet that boldness would be. It was a deep, gradual, internal shift.
Certain things just didn’t matter to me anymore. Other things mattered more than they did previously.
Creating a life vision for yourself with intention and purpose that breaks the cycles of over-achievement and burnout, may be unpopular. Understandably, no one really wants to go against the grain.
But I’ve learned to not limit myself to what is popular. I’ve learned not to create a vision that is based on the philosophy of others.
Pursuing my God-given purpose is brave. It’s bold. It’s authentic.
But it’s quiet.
It’s a journey of becoming and it’s okay to lean into it fully.
They say that if you want something different, you have to do something different. But I think if you want something different, you have to be bold enough to think differently first!
I am so grateful for this clarity.
I know that sometimes it’s hard standing out from the crowd. It takes a lot of grit to subscribe to a different approach, but when you have clarity of your goals, it becomes so much easier to pursue them more purposefully.
I don’t know about you, but for me, becoming purposefully whole is the goal. This may not be popular in our competitive world, and especially in academia for that matter, but for some of us, it’s necessary if we want to avoid burnout.
What It Means To Live With Intention
Living with intention is about focusing on what we want and what our mission is, not just on what we do not want. It’s about purposefully choosing a path that we desire for ourselves, rather than just running away from the journeys we no longer wish to be a part of.
There is something remarkable about shifting our mindset in this way.
Rather than running away from something, we purposefully pursue the life we want for ourselves. One that aligns with our values and priorities.
We know that we can be our best selves and change the world, first by taking care of ourselves and second, by setting boundaries and intentions for ourselves and those around us.
As I reflect on some of the experiences I’ve had so far, I think about the everyday choices that we’re faced with as Scholarly Mamas.
Do we tend to just go along with things because we don’t want to disappoint others or even challenge our own thought patterns?
Are we stuck in daily cycles of stress, unbalance and overwhelm?
Do we want more from our lives but are not sure where to start?
Do we underestimate the power of intention?
These are the questions we must ask ourselves if we want to be the change we seek.
When I was growing up, ‘success‘ felt synonymous with academic achievement. Building a professional career was everything. It was how I defined myself and everything I saw in my future depended on it. As an adult, I felt guilty for thinking that my purpose could be found outside of that.
If this sounds familiar, it’s likely because you too have a bigger vision for yourself. But maybe you’re afraid to intentionally pursue it. Deep inside, you know that you are more than your degree(s). You know that your academic life is only one part of your story.
Why? Because it is only just that.
Claiming The Power of Intention Daily
What if we could thread our own life path with intention? And not tomorrow, or next year, or when you finish your PhD… but starting today.
A life that aligns with our values and intuition, and feels right in the depths of our souls.
I’m not talking in some airy-fairy sense of ‘live your best life’ ideology. I am talking about taking practical steps and making bold decisions. Ones that will make an immediate difference in how you live your day-to-day life as a Scholarly Mama.
So how do we tap into the power of intention with the daily decisions we’re faced with?
The key to finding purpose, joy, happiness, and fulfillment in a culture that does not value a work-life blend, is in unleashing the power of intention on a daily basis.
An intentional change in mindset, followed by goal setting and subsequent, yet equally intentional action.
For me, living more purposefully is about committing my time, energy, creativity, and natural talents to the areas that I am most passionate about. Discovering the secret power of intention is about connecting with the person I really am, and doing so unapologetically.
I am the one who knows what I want and need – inside and out.
I believe in a God (by the way, I am a Christian) who has great plans for my life and wants me to be happy and fulfilled. But He’s also given me grace and the gift of free will. So, when I embrace the remarkable power of intention with that free will, I can choose to work on becoming purposefully whole.
In this post, I mentioned the importance of staying connected to your power source. This will help you find renewed perspective as a Scholarly Mama.
Isn’t that a good place to be?
Well, I believe so.
That’s why becoming purposefully whole is my goal.
How I Unleashed the Power of Intention In My Own Life
One thing I try not to do is give my titles and qualifications (PhD or other) any more power than they deserve in my life. The real power isn’t in that degree certificate, award, or publication.
The real power is in the impact and the mindset.
It’s the quiet power of persistence. It is the boldness of internal transformation. But more than that, it’s the personal mindset shifts that change your perspective and push you toward your greater purpose.
For me, this has meant daring to dream bigger!
Just because I am a Black Caribbean, Mama of three, doesn’t mean I can’t dream big too! I maybe doing a PhD, but that doesn’t mean I can’t have a life of meaning outside of academia.
If I don’t believe I can, then who will?
With achievable goals in mind and firm intentions that are motivated by pursuit of purpose, anything is possible.
Here are a few ways I am unleashing the power of intention in my life right now:
- I want to inspire purpose-driven Scholarly Mamas like you. I want you to discover what brings you joy and fulfilment as a whole person, so that you not only survive your journey of becoming all of you, but thrive in it. This is the purpose of my Scholarly Mamas community.
- In doing this, my first challenge was having the courage to start this platform in the first place and create inspiring content. Truth be told, this is turning out to be so much more fulfilling than I could ever imagine it would be. It was definitely a step out of my comfort zone as an introvert, but an intentional step towards something I am deeply passionate about.
- As black boys, my children don’t see enough of themselves in the books they read. I wanted to change that. So I am tapping into my creativity and building a legacy for them through writing my own children’s book series, featuring black characters that they can 100% relate to (well, maybe because the series is literally inspired by them, haha!). Anyways, if you’re interested in my children’s picture books all about creativity and fostering a growth mindset for kids, feel free to check them out here.
- I believe that reading outside of academic literature is so important for personal development and expansion of the mind. So, I’ve decided to read more and document my thoughts on some of the books I find helpful, here on My Bookshelf.
- I have seen the irreversible damage that can be done in the process of chasing a goal at the expense of self. So, I am being more intentional about protecting my mental health, by having the confidence to say ‘no’ to things that do not align with my purpose or my values.
- I want to remain present as a wife to my husband and mother to our three children, while I complete my PhD. My PhD is something I am doing for myself but it’s not my entire life. It was my internal motivation that helped me propose my research idea to a funding body, in order to secure the funding I needed to make it a reality. But I also have a family that I love, so it’s why I believe so strongly in work-life harmony.
- Unplugging as a family is something my husband and I practice regularly with our boys. We try at least once per week to just focus on ‘offline living’. Our sons call these ‘family days’ where we play games, chat, bake cakes, make homemade pizza, go for walks, have a day out, watch a movie, have a pyjama day or just chill together. We have become much more intentional about protecting this time and not letting work, study and business stuff get in the way of that.
- I am practicing real faith in everything I’ve mentioned above. Here’s the thing about the power of intention. It doesn’t always mean the path is known. Sometimes, it means taking a leap of faith and stepping into the unknown for a bit. However, with a mindset of faith and growth, it can be done. I’m proof of this. Being open to where life may take you is never a bad thing, even when embracing the power of intention. So I am committed to being intentional about trusting that what is for me, will be for me and will come to me.
These are only a few of the practical steps I’m taking. There are others, but I won’t bore you with them all here.
The key message is to live your life intentionally.
Follow through on any decisions you make for your own betterment, with the actions required to take you towards your goals.
Do so unapologetically.
Visualising what you want from your life helps you to take the practical steps you need to get there.
Write it down.
Draw it.
Put a date on it.
Pray over it.
Meditate on it.
Believe it.
Affirm it.
You Too Can Tap Into the Power of Intention
Maybe your plan will require you to overcome your fear of the unknown. Perhaps you have been feeling so overwhelmed of late, that you’ve lost sight of your vision. Maybe you need to accept that if you want a different outcome, you must take a different approach.
For me, this perspective has been life-changing.
By tapping into the power of intention, driven by purpose, I’ve been able to submit my PhD thesis, start my platform, publish my children’s book series and commit to becoming all of me. I’ve been able to demote the importance of productivity and over-achievement and elevate the things that truly matter, like cherishing my relationships, loving myself, and living in my purpose.
It brings me so much joy to be able to inspire amazing Scholarly Mamas like you, and also creative kids who look like my sons.
With the utmost humility and gratitude, I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to embark on these journeys of becoming.
After the disastrous pandemic we’ve all lived through, I have a fresh sense of meaning and purpose. I’ve pushed beyond my comfort zone big time!
I am more aware of the importance of embracing all that I want to become.
What a beautiful thing to have this clarity.
But it’s even more beautiful to let you know that you can too!
You too can free yourself of the burden of pleasing others and living a life that does not bring you joy. Your big dreams are possible and with grace and grit, you can achieve them. You have many skills, talents, and hobbies. Try rediscovering them! There is no guilt in that. You too can transition authentically and unapologetically to a place of purpose, peace, and acceptance.
Live Intentionally and Discover Your Best Self
As Scholarly Mamas, we often succumb to the pressures of over-achievement all around us, which lead us straight into burnout. We chase the accolades of our colleagues, even when they don’t align with our purpose. Becoming all that you want to be doesn’t necessarily mean that every commitment you have will carry equal precedence in your life.
It helps if we take the time to figure out who we are and where we are going.
I recently read a powerful quote that said:
“The world will ask you who you are, and if you do not know, the world will tell you.” – Carl Jung
This quote is so powerful because it reminds us of the importance of knowing our boundaries and also knowing ourselves.
This is possible when we tap into the power of intention.
When you’ve worked on your mindset and perspective first, and the time comes for you to take that leap of faith, you will be ready.
How do I know?
I know because this is what happens when you’re motivated by faith, values, purpose, and intention, and not by accolades, achievement, and prestige.
Intentionally pour into the cup of becoming the best version of you.
“The world will ask you who you are, and if you do not know, the world will tell you.”
Carl Jung
Conclusion
This post has been a much-needed reflection for me as I embark the final leg of my PhD journey. It’s a personal reminder to keep that perspective, you know, the big picture in mind. Becoming more intentional has transformed my life. I hope it empowers you to live the life that you want and deserve too.
Feeling isolated, overwhelmed, and uninspired on our Scholarly Mama journeys is not the end of your story. In fact, I’ve created a short 3-5 minute quiz to help you discover your purposeful Scholarly Mama trait. This is the first step in creating a more purposeful Scholarly Mama life for yourself.
You are more than capable of creating the balance you desire, one small win at a time. However, to do so, you will need to lean into the power of intention gifted to you. This gift is so powerful that it was bestowed upon us all. It’s now up to us to tap into it. Once you do, you’ll become a completely unstoppable, but purposeful Scholarly Mama!
Have you been trying to live more intentionally too? How has it transformed your Scholarly Mama life? Let me know in the comments below.
Remember, these are our journeys of becoming!
With much love and gratitude,
Great post!!
Thank you so much, glad you found it useful 🙂