Mindfulness: Be Intentional About the Things That Matter
In our last few posts, we’ve been talking about what it means to be human—especially to lead like a HUMAN—in an age shaped by artificial intelligence. One place AI is showing up more and more is social media. It’s getting harder to tell what’s real from what’s not, and honestly, it’s a little unnerving how good some of the fakes have become.
I’m not on social media much, but when I am, I’m selective. I scroll fast—my right thumb could probably qualify for its own workout routine—and I skip right over 80–90% of what appears in my feed. I know what resonates with me when I see it, even if I can’t always articulate why. Sometimes it’s golf videos. Sometimes it’s talking dogs (real or AI—I don’t discriminate). But because I’m a nerd for leadership and personal growth, I’m always drawn to something that sparks inspiration or nudges me to do better.
Even then, I’m picky. I won’t just listen to anybody. I want proof of concept. I want to know you walk the talk. Credibility matters to me. And that’s why I hope you won’t stop reading when I tell you this:
I don’t have as much credibility as I’d like on today’s topic.
Mindfulness is not something I’ve mastered. Not even close. So this isn’t a lecture—it’s me thinking out loud about something I’m learning, in the hope that some of it might be helpful to you too.
Fair enough? Good. Let’s jump in.
What Is Mindfulness?
“Mindfulness” has become a buzzword, but its roots trace back to Buddhist meditation practices—turning inward to heighten awareness of our thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations without judgment. The whole goal is simple:
Live intentionally instead of reacting automatically.
For our purposes here, I’d like to define mindfulness in one word:
Intentionality.
Why Does It Matter?
I lived a substantial portion of my life before I ever realized just how important intentionality is. And like I said earlier, I’m still working on it.
Here’s the key principle—no surprise, it comes from John Maxwell:
“Everything worthwhile is uphill.”
Everything that matters is difficult. If it weren’t, we’d all have meaningful relationships, healthy families, fulfilling careers, financial stability, and emotional well-being. But that’s not reality. Many people struggle. Many of us deal with stress, health issues, broken relationships, job dissatisfaction—even if we don’t always say it out loud.
There are circumstances beyond our control. But we still get a say in our outcomes. I reject the idea that we’re victims of life with no influence over where we end up.
So here’s what I believe:
Success doesn’t come from luck.
It comes from being intentional about two things:
Choosing your desired outcomes.
Pursuing your desired outcomes.
Let’s talk about both.
1. Choosing Your Desired Outcomes
Confession: I’ve struggled with this most of my life. I’m a sanguine personality. If you ask me where to eat, what to watch, or even which color to paint the bathroom, I’m probably fine with whatever you choose. It’s not that I don’t care—I just rarely have strong preferences.
But this easygoing nature made some big decisions harder than they needed to be:
Which career to pursue.
Where to go to college.
Even whether to go to college.
Looking back, I can see situations where making some decision—any decision—and moving forward would have served me better. Instead, I drifted. I coasted. I let life happen to me. And while things turned out fine, I can see now that I left opportunities on the table by being too nonchalant.
So this is where I ask you to do what I say, not what I’ve always done:
Be decisive. Choose what you want.
Jim Rohn put it like this:
“If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan.
And guess what they have planned for you? Not much.”
You’re better than that, and you deserve more out of your life. So be proactive. Choose what you want your life to look like.
And once you’ve done that, move on to…
2. Pursuing Your Desired Outcomes
Choosing is one thing. But you can’t just choose and then sit and wait. Once you’ve identified what you want, you’ve got to get moving. Success doesn’t come from wishing; it comes from doing. It comes from applying yourself with energy, consistency, discipline, dedication, and determination. It comes from reverse-engineering your path—starting with your destination and working backward through what it will take to get there.
Here’s some advice from my mentor, Chris Robinson. Chris says there are always multiple paths to wherever you want to go. When you convince yourself there’s only one, you’re setting yourself up to get stuck. Because obstacles will show up. They always do. And if your “one way” gets blocked, you’re done. Not good. The easy cure?
Believe—really believe—that there are other paths.
Once you get past that mental hurdle and accept that multiple routes exist, Chris says the next step is simple: take a first step. Today. Now. Before the motivation evaporates. It doesn’t have to be the first step—just a first step. We’re after progress, not perfection.
So you take that step, and suddenly you’re in motion. Feels good, right? Now comes Chris’s final piece of advice: tomorrow—and every day after—just take the next easiest step. That’s it. There won’t be applause or fanfare. And honestly, some days you won’t feel great about the progress you’re making. But you’ll be moving in the right direction, toward the outcome you intentionally chose for yourself.
And in due time, you’ll get there.
Mindfulness in Practice
First, mindfulness should underpin and integrate with every other element of the HUMAN leadership framework: humility, understanding, attitude, and nurturing. You and I must be intentional in these areas if we want to lead at our highest level.
But mindfulness also connects to so many other dimensions of a leader’s life. Here are just a few:
Personal growth — Put your own oxygen mask on first. You cannot give what you do not have, so invest consistently in growing yourself so you can grow your team.
Communication — Leaders can’t afford to communicate on autopilot. Be intentional with your words, your tone, your gestures, your facial expressions—all of it. And be even more intentional in your listening. People are often hesitant to speak truth to power, so listen for subtle cues that may matter more than you realize.
Presence — Choose how you show up in every room. And be aware of the wake you leave behind when you walk out.
Generosity — Be generous with your time, your attention, and your smile.
Relationships — Invest regularly—in both your personal and professional circles. Strong relationships don’t happen by accident.
Gratitude — Express thanks often. Catch people doing things right, and tell them—specifically—what you appreciate. Be your organization’s CEO: Chief Encouragement Officer.
Final Thoughts
Life is a marathon, not a sprint. As we journey toward the future we hope for, there will be seasons of pushing and seasons of coasting. We need those coasting seasons—they help us rejuvenate and guard against burnout. But if we want to achieve success and significance, we can’t allow coasting to become a lifestyle.
In high-speed racing—cycling, auto racing, you name it—there’s a technique called drafting. A trailing rider or driver tucks in behind the leader to reduce wind resistance and conserve energy. Sometimes you may need to do something similar just to get through a tough stretch. And that’s okay.
Just remember this: nobody ever won a race by crossing the finish line in a drafting posture.
At some point, you have to be intentional—be mindful—and break out of the pack. You have to choose your moment to move back to the front.
Because that’s where leaders belong.
