Finding Clarity in Chaos: The Power of Intention

In times of uncertainty, I've found it helpful to pause, sit with my thoughts, and revisit my core intentions. It doesn't solve everything, but it gives me a place to stand.

The past few weeks have been challenging. Work has been unpredictable. There have been layoffs in my industry, and the constant churn of change can make you feel like the ground is shifting under your feet. In those moments, my instinct used to be to reach for something to numb the discomfort. Now, I reach for intention.

Recovery has taught me that I can't control what happens around me, but I can control how I respond. And the way I respond starts with being clear about what matters most.

Setting the Intention

When I started The Sauna Build, I didn't just jump into buying lumber. I sat down and wrote out my intentions. Why was I doing this? Who was it for? What did I want to feel when it was done?

That exercise — distilling a big, complex project into a few core words — has become one of the most valuable tools in my recovery. It works for building a sauna, and it works for building a life.

I've created two worksheets that walk through this process:

1. The Four Keywords Worksheet: A guided exercise to help you identify the four words that capture the essence of your project or your season of life. It forces you to get specific about what you value.
1. The Intention Mapping Worksheet: Once you have your keywords, this worksheet helps you map them to concrete actions and decisions. It bridges the gap between abstract values and daily choices.

Leaving Room for Adaptation

One thing I've learned — both in recovery and in building — is that rigidity breaks. Plans change. Materials aren't available. The weather doesn't cooperate. Your body doesn't cooperate.

Setting intentions isn't about locking yourself into a rigid plan. It's about having a compass. When things go sideways, you can look at your core intentions and ask: does this decision move me closer to or further from what matters?

That flexibility has saved me more than once. When a zoning issue delayed the build, I didn't spiral. I went back to my intentions — community, patience, craftsmanship — and found other ways to move forward.

A Shared Journey

I share all of this because I know I'm not the only one navigating uncertainty. Whether you're in recovery, facing a career transition, or just trying to figure out what comes next — intention is the anchor. Start with why. Write it down. Come back to it when the noise gets loud. And remember: you don't have to have it all figured out. You just have to know what you're building toward.