This week has been marked by significant challenges. In my professional life, major changes within my work community have deeply affected me. Widespread job cuts have reshaped daily interactions, shaken morale, and led to the departure of many talented and valued colleagues. It’s been a time of uncertainty, forcing me to reflect on how to move forward amidst the unknown.
In times like these, I’ve found it helpful to pause, sit with my thoughts, and revisit my core intentions. What am I truly hoping to achieve? What drives me forward? Defining these principles with clarity and purpose acts as a guiding tool—a way to stay grounded, focused, and present, even when the road ahead feels daunting and unclear. This period of reflection has helped me process the changes, understand how they affect me, and determine how I can move forward with intention and resilience.
These moments of reflection remind me that life’s journeys are rarely smooth. They’re often filled with challenges that feel overwhelming and moments of discomfort as we navigate uncertainty. However, by anchoring ourselves to our intentions, we gain clarity and purpose, allowing us to adapt to change while continuing to move in the right direction.
In my early recovery journey, I struggled to stay sober. I knew I wanted to, and I knew I had to, but relapse often felt like an inevitable detour. This time, however, feels different. Setting a clear intention to stay sober has given me greater focus and purpose. Understanding why I want to stay sober has turned the path ahead into something more meaningful and manageable. Intentions, I’ve realized, are transformative—they provide clarity, focus, and strength to move forward, even when the journey is hard.
Intention is a compass, guiding us through uncertainty cutting through distractions. When we focus on our principles and intentions, we build a reliable tool to navigate life’s challenges. Intention helps us tune out the noise, prioritize what matters most, and move forward with clarity and peace. The road may be complex, but with intention, it becomes simpler, clearer, and more purposeful.
Again, drawing parallels between building this sauna and recovery. Both demand that we slow down, gain clarity, and follow a plan—even when things feel messy or uncertain. Both remind us to honor the process, to show flexibility when plans go awry, and to trust the value of the work itself.
As I embark on building this sauna, I know there will be forks in the road and adjustments to be made along the way. But starting with a clear understanding of why I’m doing this gives me confidence to take each step forward. Whether in recovery, work, or creative pursuits, intention is the foundation that steadies us, helping us turn challenges into opportunities for growth.
Setting the Intention
Understanding the significance of intentionality in design, I aim to approach the construction of our sauna with a deliberate and methodical mindset. Prior to initiating the design process—whether through preliminary sketches or decisions regarding dimensions and material selection—it is essential to establish a set of guiding design principles. These principles will serve as a framework to shape and inform each decision throughout the project. It all begins with a simple yet essential question: What truly matters to me right now—and why does it matter?
To bring greater clarity and intentionality to this project, I’ve created two worksheets designed to guide the process of defining what truly matters and how to align decisions with these priorities. The first worksheet focuses on identifying core values and motivations, helping to uncover the deeper "why" behind the sauna build. The second worksheet captures basic use cases, ensuring that each step of the design and construction process is purposeful and aligned with our intentions.
My hope is that these tools are not only helpful for this sauna project but can also inspire others who may be exploring their own creative or practical endeavors. Whether you’re building something tangible like a sauna or tackling a completely different challenge, using the approach in these worksheets can help ground you in intention and clarity, turning an idea into a meaningful and fulfilling reality.
Good things take time. Building a sauna is a step-by-step journey, from drafting layouts to installing materials. My first step is to document our design principles in a comprehensive design brief. This brief will serve as a foundation, providing guideposts for consistent and intentional decision-making throughout the process.
Leaving Room for Adaptation
While design principles keep us aligned, flexibility is key. One of the most exciting aspects of building a sauna is the chance to creatively solve challenges as they arise. I don’t have all the answers upfront—and that’s okay. When faced with obstacles, I know I can rely on my guiding principles outlined in the worksheets to approach solutions thoughtfully.
Each sauna build is unique, shaped by its own set of circumstances—whether it’s adjusting a layout to fit the terrain, sourcing alternative materials, or revisiting the budget. Embracing these adjustments is part of the process.
We often fixate on the end goal, forgetting the value of the journey that takes us there. In recovery, it’s tempting to focus solely on achieving sobriety, overlooking the growth and learning that unfold along the way. Similarly, when building a sauna, rushing toward the finish line can cause us to miss the beauty and meaning found in each deliberate step. By approaching each task with care and intention, we create something that reflects our values and aspirations.
A Shared Journey
Whether it’s building a sauna, a home, or a fulfilling life, the act of creation teaches us about commitment, patience, and the art of bringing vision to life. Each step—a decision, a lesson, a moment of stillness—builds something uniquely yours.
What intentions are you holding today? How will you use them to guide your path forward? Let’s embrace this journey together, piece by piece, one day, one choice, one board at a time.
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