Falling Into Fall: Intention, the Fourth Pillar of Navigating Change
- Peggy Washburn
- Sep 25
- 4 min read
hange is inevitable. Life shifts, seasons turn, and circumstances evolve. The difference in how we navigate these transitions comes not from what happens but from how we choose to respond.
Within the framework of the Five Pillars of Navigating Change, intention stands as the fourth pillar—connecting awareness, adaptation, support, and reflection into a cohesive, purposeful path forward.
Intention is the hinge between drifting and directing.
Understanding Intention
Intention is the conscious choice to act with purpose. It is the “why” behind each habit, ritual, and decision. Without it, even the most disciplined routines risk feeling empty. With intention, every small act carries meaning, whether it’s journaling, exercising, preparing meals, or taking supplements.
Within the Five Pillars of Navigating Change, Intention is what transforms everyday routines into purposeful practices that reinforce clarity, energy, and well-being. It shifts habits from being tasks on a checklist to expressions of your deeper values and goals.
Integrating Intention Into Daily Practices
Journaling With Intention
Journaling is one of the most powerful ways to anchor intention in your daily life. It allows you to bring subconscious thoughts into conscious awareness and guides your choices with clarity.
Using a structured journal like Gratitude in Focus from My Perfect Life Today can make this practice even more impactful.
Each day’s page is designed to help you connect with your inner self through:
Mood Check-In: Pause and notice how you’re feeling today. Awareness of your emotions sets the foundation for intentional action.
Gratitude: Focus on three things you are grateful for. Gratitude shifts your attention from what is lacking to what already nourishes and supports you.
Daily Affirmation & Personal Affirmation: Reinforce positive intentions with the included affirmation and create space for your own. For example: “Today I choose to fuel my body and mind with clarity and purpose.”
Reflection Focus: Reflect on your day, noting insights, accomplishments, and areas for growth. Ask yourself: “What intention did I live out today?”
Action Focus: Identify one specific, intentional step to take tomorrow that aligns with your goals and values. For example: “I act in ways that support my health and energy this month.”
Even a few lines each day can help transform habits from autopilot routines into conscious, meaningful practices. Journaling with intention lets you set your direction, recognize your progress, and plan your next step with clarity and purpose.
Daily Affirmations
Affirmations reinforce intentional thought patterns and remind you of the mindset you’re cultivating. Affirmations become most powerful when paired with a simple, repeatable action. Try integrating them into your day with these practices:
Mirror Moment: Stand in front of a mirror, speak your affirmation aloud, and maintain eye contact with yourself.
Breathe, Speak, Embody: Inhale deeply, speak your affirmation, and feel it in your body—letting it resonate physically and mentally.
Essential Oil Anchor: Inhale and apply an oil like Balance® to your wrists while saying your affirmation. Each time you smell the oil, it will cue your intention.
Daily Rhythm Anchor with Supplements: While taking a supplement, place your hands over your heart and repeat an affirmation. When using DDR Prime®, you might say, “I move through change with clarity and calm. I am focused, adaptable, and present.”
Supplementation With Intention
Many of us take supplements automatically, treating it as a routine task. Shifting to intention transforms this habit into a conscious choice.
Consider using a simple framework inspired by the natural rhythms of the Reset: Prepare, Cleanse, Renew (or Activate, Build, Cleanse).
Prepare / Activate: When supporting digestion or energy, pause and remind yourself: “I am preparing my body to function with clarity and strength today.”
Build: As you nourish with vitamins, minerals, or cellular support, affirm: “I am fueling and replenishing my body so I can thrive.”
Cleanse / Renew: When focusing on detox or balance, hold the thought: “I am releasing what no longer serves me and making space for renewal.”
Speaking these intentions while you take your supplements turns an ordinary task into an empowering ritual, one that aligns your body’s care with your deeper goals.
Anchoring With Essential Oils
Oils can provide a sensory cue for your intentions. Diffusing or applying oils at key moments—morning journaling, supplement time, or meditation—helps signal to your body and mind that you are engaging with purpose.
Balance®: Ground and center your mind.
Citrus Bloom®: Inspire energy, clarity, and optimism.
Frankincense: Encourage focus and alignment with higher purpose.
Living Intentionally Beyond the Reset
Intention is not a one-time activity. It is a daily practice that shapes how you respond to challenges, celebrate wins, and move through life. By combining journaling, affirmations, mindful habits, supplements, and sensory anchors like essential oils, each action becomes a deliberate step toward your goals.
Small, consistent acts, such as pausing to set your morning intention, reflecting at night, repeating an affirmation while grounding with an oil, or taking a supplement with awareness, accumulate over time, creating meaningful change.
Daily Reminder:“Every action I choose today moves me closer to the life I envision.”
If you’re ready to go further, there are structured ways to walk this out—a guided 90-Day Reset that rebuilds your foundation, strengthens your organs, and renews your energy for the long run. Learn more and get started here: Fall into Change: 90-Day Reset Protocol.
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Guiding You Through Change
I started with doTERRA shortly after it launched, having already used essential oils for 15 years. But when my sister gave me a bottle of doTERRA Wild Orange, it was a game-changer. The moment I opened it and inhaled the scent, I was in awe. It was a mood-shifting experience that sealed my commitment to doTERRA and my journey began. How could you not smile when you smell Wild Orange? That was over 15 years ago.
More recently, I expanded my passion for wellness and personal growth into creating transformative journals. These journals are designed to inspire growth, intention, and personal transformation. I am passionate about helping others on their unique journeys of self-discovery. I craft journals that combine meaningful prompts with reflection to help individuals embrace change and cultivate a life of purpose.
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