What were your takeaways? Click here to send me your feedback and comments.

To view Episode 49 of Survive and Thrive, “Look for Love,” click here.

To view Episode 48 of Survive and Thrive, “Cherish Your Life,” click here.

To view Episode 47 of Survive and Thrive, “Find Your Inner Energy,” click here.

To view Episode 46 of Survive and Thrive, “The Key to Mental Hygiene,” click here.

To view Episode 45 of Survive and Thrive, “This Is Why the World Has United,” click here.

To view Episode 44 of Survive and Thrive, “How to Thrive in Uncertain Markets (4 Questions),” click here.

To view Episode 43 of Survive and Thrive, “Five Keys to a Happy Retirement,” click here.

To view Episode 42 of Survive and Thrive, “Start Trusting Yourself,” click here.

To view Episode 41 of Survive and Thrive, “Make the Most of the Holidays,” click here.

To view Episode 40 of Survive and Thrive, “How Much Should You Invest?” click here.

To view Episode 39 of Survive and Thrive, “Getting the Kids Interested in Investing,” click here.

To view Episode 38 of Survive and Thrive, “The Real Way to Fight Fear,” click here.

To view Episode 37 of Survive and Thrive, “A Fear of Finances,” click here.

To view Episode 36 of Survive and Thrive, “You Are Not Alone,” click here. To view Episode 35 of Survive and Thrive, “How to Cut Your Losses,” click here.

To view Episode 34 of Survive and Thrive, “Start Solving All Your Problems,” click here.

To view Episode 33 of Survive and Thrive, “Don’t Panic and Miss Out,” click here.

To view Episode 32 of Survive and Thrive, “Rethink How You Think,” click here.

To view Episode 31 of Survive and Thrive, “A New Type of News,” click here.

To view Episode 30 of Survive and Thrive, “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow,” click here.

To view Episode 29 of Survive and Thrive, “Use or Be Used,” click here.

To view Episode 28 of Survive and Thrive, “Every Single Moment Matters,” click here.

To view Episode 27 of Survive and Thrive, “‘Christmas’ In Your Portfolio?” click here.

To view Episode 26 of Survive and Thrive, “You Should Not Sell,” click here.

To view Episode 25 of Survive and Thrive, “Your Most Harmful Instinct,” click here.

To view Episode 24 of Survive and Thrive, “2021: Sparking Magic Moments,” click here.

To view Episode 23 of Survive and Thrive, “When to Retire,” click here.

To view Episode 22 of Survive and Thrive, “How Grateful Are You?”, click here.

To view Episode 21 of Survive and Thrive, “Let’s Be Realistic,” click here.

To view Episode 20 of Survive and Thrive, “Are You Born With Optimism Bias?,” click here.

To view Episode 19 of Survive and Thrive, “Optimism vs. Pessimism: How to Change How You View Things,” click here.

To view Episode 18 of Survive and Thrive, “Mainstream Media? How to Have an Open Mind and Get the Facts,” click here.

To view Episode 17 of Survive and Thrive, “Levels of Global Population and How It Relates to You,” click here.

To view Episode 16 of Survive and Thrive, “Easy Ways to Reduce Stress – Starting Today,” click here.

To view Episode 15 of Survive and Thrive, “Finding the Helpers in Your Life,” click here.

To view Episode 14 of Survive and Thrive, “How to Create and Best Manage Your Time,” click here.

To view Episode 13 of Survive and Thrive, “Surviving and Thriving Beyond Any Circumstance,” click here.

To view Episode 12 of Survive and Thrive, “How to be Successful while Maintaining a Balanced Life,” click here.

To view Episode 11 of Survive and Thrive, “How to Let Go of Resentment and Suffering,” click here.

To view Episode 10 of Survive and Thrive, “How To Find Happiness In What You Do (Career Satisfaction),” click here.

To view Episode 9 of Survive and Thrive, “6 Simple Steps to Take Back Your Health,” click here.

To view Episode 8 of Survive and Thrive, “Why Are You Here? Finding Purpose,” click here.

To view Episode 7 of Survive and Thrive, “7 Steps to Happiness,” click here.

To view Episode 6 of Survive and Thrive, “The Pursuit of Financial Happiness,” click here.

To view Episode 5 of Survive and Thrive, “Take Control of Your Finances,” click here.

To view Episode 4 of Survive and Thrive, “What to Believe In,” click here.

To view Episode 3 of Survive and Thrive, “Relationships: Your Smartest Investment,” click here.

To view Episode 2 of Survive and Thrive, “How to Overcome Fear,” click here.

To view Episode 1 of Survive and Thrive, “The First Steps to Take Your Power Back,” click here.

Welcome back to Survive and Thrive. I’m Nathan Hurd, Chief Growth Officer of The Oxford Club.

And today, I want to talk about something I’ve come to value more and more over time. It’s a powerful way to change your life overall and your life in the moment. And it’s especially powerful at a time like the one we’re in currently.

As I film this, investors are by and large nervous – and for good reason. This year has not been pretty for most.

But today I’d like to focus on something that will help immensely, especially when you’re feeling unsure.

And that is the power of intention.

Every day when you wake up and look out into the world, there are two primary positions: either reaction or creation.

Think about it. When we wake up without a plan, without clear intentions about what we most want to have happen each day – let alone each week, month or year – we tend to move through that day, and our life, in reaction to what comes our way.

Maybe, as I’ve certainly done many times, you get up, you get some coffee, you check your email or pick up the paper… you begin in one way or another to engage with the world.

The moment you start to let in the world without some other overriding program in place, the desires and the opinions of the outside world put you in a place of reaction. Once that happens, your very next decision tends to be influenced by your reaction to whatever you were doing before.

Reacting to the comments from, or moods of, our family, the commentary on the news, the weather, the behavior of those we interact with… whatever else might come along… ends up being not only distracting but also disempowering.

But everything changes with intention.

On the flip side, if we wake up and sit down for just a few minutes to list out the top three or five things we want to create in our day, all of a sudden, we have a North Star that can guide us through everything else that comes.

Intention like this can be anything, from portfolio management activities, to eating clean and healthy foods, to connecting with a friend and making them feel heard, to connecting with a spouse and making sure they not only hear but truly feel your love for them.

I mean, the choice is yours. What are the things within your control that would lead to a great version of tomorrow?

If our intention is to “get through the day,” that’s what it will feel like. We’ll see what comes, and we’ll get through it. But this general approach often leaves us feeling like we’re not going very far or like we’re just going through the motions.

If, however, we wake up each day, and set clear intentions for a few things that would move our lives forward or make the day a success on any level, it’s funny, but no matter how difficult the day, things tend to work out pretty good.

I think I first realized this several years ago on a trip we took as a family to Paris. For the first time ever, my wife and I decided to sit down before the trip, knowing that it was going to be a wonderful but potentially stressful trip with our two young kids, and wrote our intentions.

How we wanted to act and feel. Who we wanted to be for one another. What experiences we wanted to create. It was astounding. It was the best trip. And we created wonderful moments that I’ll cherish forever.

So if you’re interested in trying this, it’s very simple. And I promise it will make a big difference. It will move you forward and make each day feel more rewarding.

And during a period of economic contraction like the one we’re in, it’s important to take control and find the richness in every day.

All you need to do is sit down tomorrow morning and write down three to five intentions. What do you want to feel, see, be or do most tomorrow? What would make it a great day? What would make you feel alive? What would move you forward?

Just make sure whatever you write is within your control. If you try this every day for one week, just observe how it feels. See what a difference it makes. And hopefully it will become a practice you come to love as much as I have.

Click the link below and shoot me a note. Let me know what this made you think of because I would love to hear from you. Maybe you’re doing some version of this already. But either way, I hope it was helpful.

And until next time, this has been Survive and Thrive. Thank you.