How to Live A Life with Intention

How to Live A Life with Intention

Ever wondered what it takes to stop feeling like life is just happening to you and start feeling like you're actually steering the ship? This episode of M.A.Y.A: My Ambition Your Ambition zooms in on that exact shift, as host Maya Akai breaks down how to live a life with intention rather than drifting on autopilot.

Drawing on her background in mental health and her trademark straight-talking style, Maya asks the central question: "Are you living a life by design or by default?" From there, she lays out a clear four-step cycle for becoming what she calls an "architect of choice": acknowledge, evaluate, assess and act. You’ll hear her stress that agency is "your capacity to be able to act independently, make free choices, and exert power" to reach your own goals – not someone else’s.

Maya talks honestly about how easy it is to fall into the "busy" trap, reacting to emails, crises and other people’s expectations while ignoring your own needs. She contrasts reacting with responding, explaining that intention shows up when you slow down, think twice, and act once, instead of letting your emotions lead you into yet more clean-up work. There’s plenty here for anyone who’s ever felt stuck in a job, relationship or routine that doesn’t fit anymore.

She walks through how to strip away the "should-haves", sift through the noise of other people’s demands, and spot the people, places or habits that keep pulling you away from your "true north". Maya keeps it real about the effort involved, reminding you that poor habits took years to build and won’t vanish overnight. Still, her bottom line is simple and catchy: "Stop drifting.

Start designing." If you’re ready to swap autopilot for intentional action, this conversation offers a practical framework and a gentle nudge: what one intentional brick are you ready to lay today?