Disciplined & Intentional: Month 6

On 07.02.11 · 2 Comments · In Self Improvement

Sigh. It’s hard to believe that yet another month has passed. In all honesty, June was really about reclaiming my life. At the beginning of the month, I was utterly and completely overwhelmed by all that I had piled on my plate. Between my writing deadlines, Minted challenges, VBS, youth camp, and plain old everyday life, it was a pretty wild ride.

I’m starting to realize how much I crave order in my life. If I’m going to work, I have to have an organized workspace. I need a clean desk and an empty inbox to really concentrate. The level of disorder in my home is a direct reflection of the disorder in my priorities and attention as of late. When I closed the etsy shop, I did it because it had become priority number one. I let everything else slide when I had orders to fill, and I became obsessed with selling more cards and making more money. Sales are good, but I couldn’t keep up with the pace I had set, and our lives reflected it.

Stepping back for a few moments was really good for me. During the time that the shop was closed, I was able to go to Centrifuge with our youth group, and it was completely refreshing. To be honest, I never really expected to be on the receiving end of the teaching there, but the camp pastor, Chad Poe, spoke directly to my heart and really encouraged me to refocus my attention. I had become very intentional about building my business, but I had lost sight of the things that truly matter.

All of that to say, June has been a month about being intentional with my time and attention. I have continued to run regularly, and it has helped me tremendously to leave the house and work behind for a little while and simply hit the pavement. I’m still reading my Bible, but I’m also still behind. As I frenetically tried to catch up so I could check it off my list, I realized that I was missing the point. I was rushing through the reading for the sake of saying that I had completed it. So I’ve decided to release myself from catching up. I’ve developed the discipline of twice daily Bible reading; now I’m working on reading it with intention, which is something that I should have been doing all along.

As I type this, the household is back in order and manageable again. It’s my goal to keep it that way.

Until next time, grace and peace.
Leslie Ann Jones, freelance writer, stationery designer, mommy, photographer

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On 07.02.11 · 2 Comments · In Self Improvement
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  • Nikki

    It looks like you are truly learning to live your life as your motto this year.  While trying to live a disciplined and intentional life, life is teaching you what it truly means to be disciplined and intentional.  Sometimes by working on checking off the to do list we have set for ourselves, we miss the true blessings and lessons in life.  Thanks for sharing, I needed this also.  My motto for this year was laughter!  I sometimes get wrapped up in the things that don’t matter and this year I wanted to sit back and laugh!  Truly laugh!  Enjoy it all and teach my children that through it all laughter is an important part of life!  In a way I think it is funny because I chose laughter for this year and Chloe’s personality has shown that she is full of laughter!  May God continue to bless you in all you do!!!! 

    With laughter and love,
    Nikki

    • http://leslieannjones.com Leslie Ann

      It’s definitely been a learning process, Nikki. 

      Laughter is such a good word for the year! I think we could all use a bit more of it. I can be a pretty uptight mom sometimes, so I could stand some lessons in that category too.

      Love you sweet friend!