Living With Intent
Someone recently asked me what I was looking for in my relationships, both professionally and personally. After thinking about it, I realized that one word best sums it up: intent.
Intent is more than a good idea or a hopeful attitude. It’s a deliberate decision to act with purpose. To live with intent means I don’t leave my most important relationships up to chance, convenience, or leftover time. Healthy, impactful relationships don’t grow in the right direction on their own; they move forward because someone decides they matter enough to be intentional.
Intent always requires choice.
Strong relationships take time, work, and focus — especially in the midst of busyness, distractions, or difficult seasons. When we act with intent, we stop assuming closeness will “just happen” and start showing up on purpose. It’s the difference between hoping a relationship will be healthy and actively creating the conditions that allow it to be.
If intent is the goal, here are three practical ways to live it out:
Don’t wait until you feel ready. Intent means making time to connect, listen, and be present—even when you’re tired or distracted.
Act with purpose. Don’t just react to emotional moments. Create meaningful ones. Be deliberate with your words and actions.
Practice small, consistent investments. A quick text. A check-in call. A word of encouragement. Done regularly, these small things often matter more than grand gestures done occasionally.
When we shift from accidental connection to intentional investment, it doesn’t just change our relationships… it makes a difference.
Larry
Check out our latest episode of the RelationShifts Podcast:
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