New Delhi, March 13 -- The word "intentional" is weighed down by repetition in a world that seems to be breathlessly hurtling towards wellness. It has become the most popular adjective for a range of lifestyle content. There's intentional dating, intentional skincare, intentional parenting and exhortations to just "be intentional".

It's not the word itself but overuse that risks devaluing its meaning, turning it into a cliche. Intentional implies a sense of being deliberate, with will and focus, or with awareness. The word traces its roots to the Latin intendere, meaning to strain or turn one's attention towards.

In India, a couple of decades ago, asking, "what is your intention?" was a pointed remark to call out another person's questi...