Life is often compared to a game, with its rules and challenges. However, unlike a game, the stakes in life are much higher, and the consequences of our actions can profoundly impact our happiness, success, and fulfilment.

To navigate this nonlinear journey successfully, start with intent.

Denise Linn was right, “where intention goes, energy flows.”

Playing the game of life with intent means taking ownership of your life and actively creating the path you want to follow.

It also means being proactive rather than reactive — taking charge of your life and not simply waiting for things to happen to you.

You actively seek opportunities that align with your values and goals and take action to pursue them.

When you are deliberate about the direction of your life, you understand that every move you make, every decision you take, and every action you execute has consequences.

Hence the need to align them with your values, goals, and aspirations.

Playing the game of life with intent is the path to a meaningful and purposeful life.

“The power of intention is the power to manifest, to create, to live a life of unlimited abundance, and to attract into your life the right people at the right moments,” says Wayne Dyer.

In our ever-changing world, it’s easy to get lost in the noise and distractions of daily life and lose sight of what truly matters.

But with intention, focus, and perseverance, you can navigate the game of life with clarity, purpose, and direction.

It requires setting clear goals, making choices that align with them, and being mindful of your actions and decisions.

It’s not too late to change the trajectory of your life or make your next moves more intentional.

Start by reflecting on what means the world to your life.

Playing the game of life with intent requires a deep understanding of yourself and what you want out of life. You must be honest with yourself about your strengths, weaknesses, and values.

It also means paying attention to your thoughts, feelings, and actions and being intentional about how you show up in the world.

It’s a level of awareness that can help you make choices that are aligned with your values and goals.

What do you enjoy doing? What skill brings out the best in you? What are your career goals? What’s the one thing changes everything for you? Or what does success in life mean to you? What’s your bigger goal?

Take some time to think about what is important to you in the most critical areas of your life.

What do you want to achieve, and what do you value in life?

Once you have a sense of your values and goals, define your intent.

Your intent should be a clear and concise statement of what you want to achieve or the direction you want to take.

For example, “I want to earn a living as a writer”.

Break it down into daily actionable steps — intent alone is not enough.

“When intention is supported by effort, success follows, says Robert Cheeke.

Example, to get started as a writer, you can focus on:

• Getting a personal site to share your thoughts online.
• Scheduling writing time daily. I write first thing in the morning.

Your north star is the only thing that matters

“Establish a north star to orient your decisions around,” Chuck Palahnuik once said.

“Move with intent. You’re more likely to get what you want,” he argues.

Ten years ago, my ultimate goal was to work for myself, become an entrepreneur or stay off the path of renting my time.

The details of that goal were “a work in progress”. But I knew creative freedom and how I spend my time meant everything to me.

I’ve launched many projects since then.

Many of them have become income sources today.

Adapting, doing more of what works and less of what doesn’t, makes it easier to stack wins.

Playing the game of life with intent requires a willingness to adapt and change course as needed.

Life is unpredictable, and sometimes our plans don’t work out as we intended. However, if you are playing the game of life with intent, you are open to adjusting your plans and pivoting as necessary to stay on track.

Whether you’re starting a new career, building a business, starting a relationship, raising a family, or pursuing your passions, playing the game of life with intent empowers you to control how your life unfolds.

When you play the game of life with intent, you are not just going through the motions or reacting to circumstances as they arise.

Instead, you are taking ownership of your life and actively designing the path you want to follow.

It takes effort and a huge commitment, but the rewards are worth it.

You will experience a sense of purpose, fulfillment, and joy that comes from living a life that is true to who you are.

By playing the game of life with intent, you can create a meaningful, fulfilling life aligned with your purpose.

“Choose your intention carefully and then practice holding your consciousness to it, so it becomes the guiding light in your life.” — Roger Delano Hinkins

Intention creates the reality you expect. Action executes intention. Do more for your future self. Without intention, life is an endless loop of frustrations, disappointments, and regrets.

This article originally appeared in Medium.