Bringing in the New Year:  Intentions versus Resolutions

My first blog I have to admit I am excited to start this next journey in my coaching career.  What a perfect time as the end of 2019 and the beginning 2020 a new decade.  My best friend is the person who has inspired this blog with discussions of the new year and setting RESOLUTIONS or INTENTIONS for this year.

How many of us set resolutions each year?  I am going to lose weight, eat healthier, and exercise more, does this sound familiar?  Most of us don’t make it through January before we feel like we have failed or just given up…

What if we look at other options for potential success in this area?  How about selecting intentions?  Let’s start at the very beginning and examine the differences between RESOLUTION and INTENTION.  A resolution per Oxford Dictionary is defined as a firm decision to do or not to do something.  An example of this would be “I am giving up soda” so the first time you go  out to eat with friends and you feel the soda calling you, so you take a sip and your resolution is broken, and you feel like you have failed.  Also means resolution is broke, so you can now drink soda again.   

Now let’s look at INTENTIONS: Per Deepak Chopra “intentions are the starting point of every dream – the seed of creation.”   An INTENTION is creating a statement that is clear, decisive and has you moving towards an action or goal for wellbeing.  “Every journey begins with the first step of articulating the intention, and then becoming the intention” – Bryant McGill. 

How do go about setting our intentions?  Think it is important to look back at the previous year and focus on the successes you have experienced.  If you focus on the goals, you did not reach then you will set yourself up to follow in those footsteps this year.  When you review the successes think about why were they successful?  What was the driving forces for those things to happen?

Step 1:  Examine the previous year.  Use whatever methods works best for you, meditation, journaling, jotting down thoughts, or talking them out with a friend or family member. 

Step 2:  Sit with them, take the time to celebrate what went well and what you to enhance further.  We want to hold onto those thoughts and feelings.  During this time also take note of what may not have gone the way you wanted it to, acknowledge the feelings associated with those experiences and release them.    If we hold on to those feelings, they may have the ability to prevent us from moving forward.

Step 3:  How to select INTENTIONS with meaning?  Remember this is to be creating a statement that is clear, decisive and has you moving towards an action or goal for wellbeing.  What is your inner voice telling you?  What is important to you? Your intentions help us move forward.  You do not want them to create struggles in you or for you.  When you are setting them, it should feel like a gift you are giving yourself.

Step 4: Language, selecting of words is also something to take into consideration.  Words carry energy.  Anabolic energy which is a positive energy and moves us forward or catabolic energy can be a negative energy and may assist in taring us down.  For example, a simple statement of “I have to lose weight” when you say have to it’s almost like a force is making you do it.  How about a word change to “I want to lose weight”, which one motivates you??

Think about intentions you are interested in, for personal, professional, and/or family life.

Here are some examples of intentions:

I intend to see goodness all around me

I intend to focus on my health and wellbeing through selecting healthy foods and enhancing the physical activity in my daily life

I intend to take my relationships to new levels of truth, clarity, love and support

I intend to stop taking things people say or their actions so personally

Once you have selected your intention or resolution solution and it feels right that’s awesome –

Now that you have created the intention(s), what’s next?

Step 5:  The action plan:  Now you have created your intention(s) what steps are you going to take next?  This depends on the type of person you are and what works for you.

• Saying the intention each day, maybe in the morning when you wake up, or throughout the day, or before going to bed.
• Having the intention written out and placed in an obvious spot for you to review.
• Including it in your daily meditation if you so choose.
• If you have an “Alexa” or “Google” could have it remind you of it daily.

Step 6:  Evaluate – Intentions are different then resolutions if you want to adjust or change the intention because something as guided you in that way, go for it.  This is about personal growth and self-motivation.

I’m excited for your journey and hope this blog has been helpful.