Intentional Daily HabitsPost #3

Intentional

Part 1: The 3 Keys to Staying Intentional

We're already several weeks into the new year. How are those resolutions holding up?

If you're like most people, the initial excitement has started to fade. The gym bag sits by the door, untouched for a few days. The journal entries have become sporadic. The ambitious reading list feels more daunting than inspiring. But here's the truth: January doesn't determine your year. Intentionality does.

Being intentional isn't about perfection. It's about consistently choosing what matters most, even when motivation wanes. Over the next few months, we'll explore what it means to live intentionally—in our character development, our parenting, our daily choices, and the legacy we're building in our children's hearts.

Today, let's start with three keys that determine whether we'll still be pursuing our goals in March, June, or December.

Key #1: Habits

Resolutions fail when they rely on willpower alone. They succeed when they become habits.

Think about brushing your teeth. You don't wake up each morning debating whether you feel motivated to do it. You don't require an inspirational quote or an accountability partner. You just do it, because it's a habit woven into the fabric of your day.

The same principle applies to character development in our children. We don't wait until we feel inspired to teach selflessness or empathy. We build it into our daily rhythms, mealtime conversations, bedtime routines, and teachable moments throughout the day. The traits we want to see flourish in our children aren't cultivated through occasional grand gestures but through consistent, small actions repeated over time.

Where are you at in your resolutions? Have you identified the specific habit you need to establish? It's not enough to say, "I want to be more patient with my kids." What does that look like practically? Perhaps it's taking three deep breaths before responding when frustration rises. Perhaps it's putting your phone away during homework time. Small habits, consistently practiced, create the lasting change we're seeking.

The secret isn't complexity. It's consistency.

Key #2: Happy

Here's something we often overlook: if you're not enjoying the process, you won't continue it.

We stick with things we're excited about. Children naturally understand this. They practice skills they find fun, whether it's kicking a soccer ball, drawing pictures, or building with blocks. They abandon activities that feel like drudgery.

As adults, we sometimes forget this fundamental truth. We set goals that sound noble but quickly drain us. We commit to things we "should" do rather than what genuinely lights us up. Then we wonder why our motivation disappears by February.

This doesn't mean everything worth doing is easy or always pleasant. Teaching character to young children can be exhausting. Staying patient through the seventh meltdown of the day requires effort. But within the challenge, there should be joy. There should be moments that make you smile. There should be a reason beyond obligation that keeps you continuing.

Are you excited about your resolutions? If not, why not? Sometimes we need to adjust our approach. If reading through an entire curriculum manual feels overwhelming, start with just one story a week. If formal lesson plans feel restrictive, try incorporating character lessons into everyday moments like at the grocery store, during playtime, while folding laundry together.

Find the version of your goal that sparks joy, not just duty. Your children will sense the difference. They'll engage more deeply when they see your genuine enthusiasm.

Key #3: Hope

We persevere in things that matter.

This is perhaps the most crucial key. When we believe something is important enough, not just nice or beneficial, we find the strength to continue even when it's hard.

Consider why parents get up multiple times a night with a newborn. It's not because they're excited about it. It's not because it's a pleasant habit. They do it because their child's wellbeing is important enough to sacrifice sleep, comfort, and personal convenience.

The same principle applies to character education. When we recognize that building virtues like empathy, courage, and faithfulness in our children is shaping the very foundation of who they'll become, we'll prioritize it. When we understand that today's small lessons about selflessness may determine whether they grow into adults who encourage and uplift others, we'll press on through the challenging days.

Hope is what sustains us between the planting and the harvest. We can't see character traits forming in real-time. We won't always witness the precise moment a child's heart shifts from self-focus to genuine concern for others. But we trust the process. We believe the investment matters.

Do you believe they're important enough to continue? If your goal was to incorporate more intentional character training into your home or classroom, have you connected it to the bigger vision? These aren't just activities to fill time. You're cultivating souls. You're shaping the next generation's capacity to love well, choose wisely, and encourage others with authenticity.

That's important enough to keep going.

Moving Forward

So here we are, partway through the year's first month or perhaps beyond. Your resolutions might be going well, stalling, or already abandoned. But today offers a fresh opportunity.

Ask yourself:

• Habits: What small, specific action can I repeat consistently?

• Happy: What approach would I actually enjoy? How can I enjoy the process?

• Hope: Why does this matter? What am I building toward?

Being intentional isn't about guilt or perfection. It's about aligning our daily choices with what we know matters most. It's about building habits that serve our values, finding joy in the journey, and holding fast to hope when we can't yet see the results.

The character we're developing in ourselves and in our children, is worth the intention. It's worth the consistency. It's worth choosing again tomorrow, even if today didn't go as planned.

Let's stay intentional. Daily.

What's one small habit you can commit to this week? Share in the comments below!