New Year's Intentions: The New Resolution

We’ve all made our fair share of New Year’s resolutions. Each year we hope to obtain lofty goals like eliminating a bad habit, taking up a new hobby, or spending more time in our communities. As the weeks roll on, we sometimes find that our goals start to become distant realities. Despite our want to make these resolutions work, we all will most likely fall short. So what is it about resolutions that are so hard to possess? What if setting a New Year’s intention rather than making a resolution is the key to a successful year?

The Difference is Intention

There is nothing wrong with setting resolutions or having the desire to make a positive change in our lives. However, focusing merely on the goal and not the journey might automatically set us up for failure. Some of our more elaborate resolutions may take time to realize, and not seeing immediate results could discourage us from continuing that specific path and before we know it we become serial resolution deserters!

What if we reframed the way that we viewed our goals and named them intentions, rather than resolutions? The difference could be magic. For example, instead of resolving to quit smoking cigarettes, we could instead set forth the intention to be more kind to our bodies. That way, our progress is what takes center stage, not just the outcome. If we slip up, there is an opportunity for self-forgiveness because our path to healing is a continuous one and does not fail just because of one mistake.

Intentions can encompass many areas of our lives simultaneously and not stick to one goal. To continue with our example, being more kind to our bodies does not only have to mean quitting smoking but could also suggest a healthier diet or self-care regimen. The possibilities for positive changes increases with genuine intention.

How To Set an Intention

Setting intentions are just as easy as setting resolutions if we’re willing to dig a little deeper. First, think of any negativity in your life that you wish to address. Examples could include a lack of connection to certain friends or family, a lack of passion, or a habit that is detrimental to our wellbeing. Once you’ve isolated the negativity, then think about what might feed into that. What lies behind the negativity could be a lack of time-management, a lack of desire for new opportunities, a strong feeling of inadequacy, etc. Once you’ve dug deeper into what feeds negative outcomes in your life, make an intention that would adequately address the root.

How To Maintain an Intention

Easy as 1-2-3? Probably not. Maintaining intentions takes work and yes—intention! The best way to ensure you are meeting your goals is to check-in with yourself and your progress. Check-ins can start as a daily process and become less and less frequent as you move forward, but how often you check in is uniquely up to you and your intention. Remember, it’s the journey towards improvement that’s important and not necessarily the outcome.

Tired of making New Year’s goals that never seem to come to fruition? Take a step back and take an in-depth look at how negativity may be forming in your life. With that extra effort, your intention to address these causes can make all the difference for your new year!