Books to Help You Live with more Intention

Here are some book ideas to help you live with intention. I genuinely don’t think this focused way of living is because of one specific book. But rather a compilation of a few books married with style and a life pace that simply makes sense for my family. In today’s article I’m sharing some of my favorite intentional living themed books.

Hopefully they can be a resource for you or a launch point to your own investigations for what intentional living looks like for your family.

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The Mindset

Intentional Living for my family is a mindset. It’s a merge of a few ideas that have all centered around one major theme: Creating a home of peace. This mindset also centers around the energy or mental process we use to get things done, accomplish our goals, and where our efforts lie.

Below are a few books that have helped cultivate a mindset of growth in this area.

Essentialism is often used in professional development settings or is considered a business decision making book. But I’ve found it’s actually beautifully conceptual in nature and can be used to cross over professional and personal areas of life. It is deeply meaningful in the growth of determining what’s most essential.

If there ever was a book that directly combats the busy-do everything-volunteer for it all- be all things to all people- addiction to hurry that so many people struggle with…this book is it. I have never in my life read a book that points me more toward the way of Jesus, and how to apply it to my day to day living as this book. It equally and just as importantly teaches how to eliminate the idea of hurry in our lives as well. Being a Christian life book at its core, readers will learn how to live in a way more reflective of the way Jesus lived, not just what he said or did but how he lived his life.

Comer’s book is, ironically so, an insanely quick read. It’s written in a conversational style with beautiful imagery and inspiriting text. Its hands down one of the best books I’ve read in years.

Full disclosure here, I haven’t read this book. I’ve listened to part of it and it’s en route to my home as I write. I have deeply and richly benefited from the work of Angela Watson. Her work has helped me as a teacher find balance personally and professionally. Through the learning I’ve done in Angela’s courses and other books I was able to pave the way for Pine Daisy House in my life. This book fits squarely into the idea of intentional living and its mindset.

Fewer Things, Better is intended for teachers. I know I’m not just speaking for myself when I say, teachers struggle mightily with overworking. Watson has helped shift the narrative that one of America’s most important professions can also be its most effective when teachers are equipped with the skills and tools to take back their personal lives.

I can’t wait to dig in and keep learning

The Lifestyle and Our Stuff

In our journey through the style and application of intentional living in our home we have taken a very serious step toward minimalism as a mindset. We still own things, there are pictures on the walls, and our closets regularly needed to be cleaned out. But just shifting our mindset has allowed our home to be what it’s meant to be without stuff blocking the view. It has been a beautiful and profound process.

Becker is arguably THE EXPERT on Minimalist living in America. He breaks down the approach, methodology, and mindset in his book. It is not about owning nothing, it’s about thoughtfully owning less so that you truly love everything in your home and feel at peace when you are there.

Lifestyle meets Decor

When I was newly married, and pinterest was yet to be a thing, I used to cut clippings of home interiors from Pottery Barn magazines. I loved the style, and the way it so effortlessly married modern and rustic elements. Over time, and throughout the years Pottery Barn has established itself as a mainstay in American home decor and design. Also as gifts, my mom bought me nearly all of the Pottery Barn Design books. I still, to this day, use them as reference and love them. The visuals, the narratives, and the ideas abound every time I look at them.

I found my design footing as a new wife through the help of this series of home design books. They taught me how to effectively use texture, neutral colors enhanced by accents, and maximize display to be beautiful. I learned how to create a home that is visually peaceful and aesthetically appealing.

Each of these books has contributed to the overall conceptual idea of intentional living for my family. And the beauty is, intentional living looks different for each of us. Our giftings, callings, and homes are all different. But many of us stand united in the idea of seeking to live unhurried lives with more freedom and less stress. These books have helped me on the way, and I hope they’ll do the same for you.

With hope for you and your intentional home,