Theme of the Week: Intentional Living
“Perfection of character is this: to live each day as if it were your last, without frenzy, without apathy, without pretence.”
- Marcus Aurelius
Brother,
Aurelius reminds us that the ultimate way to live is through presence, intentionality, authenticity, and genuineness.
Fear is often the thief of all of these things.
My battle with cancer was a time deeply engulfed in fear. I could not change my diagnosis, and I could not predict how my body would respond to the countless rounds of chemotherapy ahead of me. At first, that uncertainty brought panic. My mind searched for answers that were not available. It wanted certainty in a situation that offered very little of it. The frenzy could have consumed me.
But instead, I chose presence, intentionality, authenticity, and genuineness based on a simple realization:
If each day truly could be my last, then I did not want to live it in fear or apathy or pretence. I wanted to live it with intention.
That realization brought a sense of peace and clarity, even during cancer. I was able to accept where I was, move forward, and begin living my life.
As I became more attuned to the present moment, I started asking myself: How do I want to spend my time and energy?
The answer to that question created a shift.
I became more diligent about caring for myself - through movement, meditation, journaling, and prayer. These practices were intentional and grounded me in the present.
I also saw a shift in my relationships. There needed to be alignment in energy and values with those in which I had a relationship. My circle became smaller, but I felt more supported and aligned than ever before. This brought a sense of authenticity and genuineness in my life.
Through all of this, I began to understand that this is what my journey is truly about - learning to live more intentionally. It is a process of sifting through the fear, the noise, the apathy, and the pretence around me, and choosing to operate in a way that aligns with my highest good. To me, that is what Aurelius meant by the perfection of character.
Each day may be our last. Do not let that thought scare you.
Let it wake you up.
Stay strong, even when you are not. It’s okay, you are not alone.
With love always,
Michael Argyrides
Founder - Path to Becoming
