It’s that time of year again. “I will lose X lbs.” “I will exercise Y times a week.” “I will stop doing Z.” I have always found it interesting that New Year’s resolutions typically involve identifying something within ourselves that we deem negative and resolving to change that behavior or attribute into a positive. When we inevitably stop giving our resolutions attention (be real, you know it happens) that type of thinking can actually make us feel as though we’ve failed.

That’s why this year I’m focusing on intentions. Setting an intention for the year is different than setting a resolution. A resolution, by definition, is a firm decision to do or not do something. Being firm, a resolution does not give the resolver a lot of wiggle room, space for change, or grace for growth. An intention, on the other hand, is a mental state that represents a path to carrying out a goal. An intention is a goal that aligns with your values, an objective that directs your actions.

Intention Setting

When setting an objective that will direct your future actions you need to think about what your end goal is. This typically isn’t something superficial like losing weight, or saving a certain amount of money by the end of the year. Think more along the lines of improving your communication, living authentically, speaking your truth, etc. Follow the steps below to help guide your intention setting process.

1. Reflect.
   • Reflect back on the past, and not necessarily just the past year. What has gone right? What were you doing when you were at your happiest? What has gone awry? What are things that you have done that didn’t reflect your authentic self?
2. Think forward.
   • Ask yourself where you would like to be this time next year. Set the goal that will guide your behavior. Think about what your goal is serving. Are you setting an intention to improve your physical health, your connections, energy, etc.?
3. Write it down.
   • Writing anything down is a good way to commit something to memory. Writing your intention can serve as a reminder for you as you make decisions and can help guide your behavior to align with where you want to be.
4. Break it down.
   • “I am going to communicate better.” This is an excellent intention – but lofty. We cannot flip a switch on 1/1/2021 to be a better communicator. Break down your goal into smaller, achievable chunks. How about trying something like this?: “For the first 2 months of the year I am going to text a different friend every Monday and ask them how their weekend was.”
5. Remember
   • Remember that you are human, you are not infallible and you must give yourself space for growth! Allow your intention to grow with you as you change throughout the next year.

Now, I’m not telling you NOT to set goals for the next year. Goals are great because they give us something to work toward. Just make sure that your ultimate goal aligns with an intention. That way, your actions will be guided by your values rather than superficial notions. Intentions can be so many things, so avoid boxing yourself into one area. The world is your oyster when it comes to intention-setting!

We would love to hear your 2021 intentions. Let us know in the comments.