The Good Fight: The Daily Challenge to Live Intentionally

I want to live a life that matters. A life filled with joy, growth, purpose, and fulfillment.

I will not succeed in living that kind of life without continual and intentional effort. Lately I have been pondering the concept that I must fight every day to live the kind of life I aspire to.

Fighting is not a concept I am naturally attracted to. I do not like strife, I am not naturally assertive, and I avoid strong emotions. But the more I think about it, the more I have come to understand (and accept) the necessity of fighting daily to live the kind of life I wish to live.

 That is why I blog about living intentionally. It is a regular reminder to me—and all of you—to keep on keeping on. I am glad for those who have joined me on my journey towards a more intentional and meaningful life. You cheer me on, ask me challenging questions, and send me intriguing thoughts to ponder.  Thanks!

The Good Fight

In 1 Timothy, the apostle Paul counsels his protégé Timothy to “Fight the good fight of faith.”

I like that verse because it reminds us fighting is not always negative. There is such a thing as a Good fight. A fight where the focus is not on defeating the enemy, but rather about a determined effort towards an end.

Living with intention takes that kind of effort. Each and every day.

What are we fighting against?

• Resistance—the universal force that resists all our efforts to improve ourselves or our world
• Fear—of risk, failure, pain, losing face, etc.  
• Distractions
• Unhelpful habits
• Running on autopilot and staying in my comfy little rut
• Busyness and fatigue
• Laziness and indifference—who cares about living intentionally when it’s easier to coast?
• Hopelessness—why bother when there’s no hope of ever winning?
• Unhelpful beliefs and the negative voices that repeat them

Notice we are not fighting people. Mostly the battle is won and lost inside our own head as we attempt to control the attitudes, beliefs and choices that lead to the actions we take.

Are you ready to join me in fighting the good fight? Here are some suggestions to help:.

Things to remember as you embark on the good fight.

• Every human faces the same battle. We each have the choice to keep fighting or surrender to the whims of fate.  
• Every human has the power to change and the potential to grow. Even you!
• This is a battle that will not end. It is like breathing. We must keep at it as long as we are still hanging out on earth.
• The good fight is not about winning the war. It’s about doing life the best we can, day after day after day.  
• The battle to live with intention is won or lost one small choice at a time.
• Each positive choice is a victory.
• God’s mercies are new every morning, which means each new day we face a clean slate. We don’t need to wallow in yesterday’s setbacks.
• This is not solo combat. We all need each other for encouragement, advice, support, and the occasional smack upside the head.

Over the next few months I will look at some tools and strategies that will help you to win the small daily battles of the Good Fight. Are you ready? [Cue Rocky theme…]