New Year's Intentions, Not Resolutions

Year after year, we write out our list of New Year’s resolutions encompassing all our needs and desires. We tell ourselves we must lose weight, find a better job, get married, or even get divorced. Yet, year after year, some of us find ourselves disappointed because these resolutions don’t pan out.

According to the U.S. and World News Report, the failure of resolutions is estimated to be 80% because most people lose their motivation by mid-February. What could be stopping us from reaching our goals and creating the lives we want?

One way we may be more successful this year is by turning our resolutions into intentions. What’s the difference? With intentions, we are perfectly fine with the outcome. We are fine whether we are successful with our goals or not.

Creating resolutions can feel extremely stressful and riddled with pressure. We feel this weight on our shoulders and unless we achieve our goals, we feel like a failure. At the same time, we are so desperate to make our resolutions happen. However, when we approach anything in our lives with desperation, things don’t usually work out. Instead, what if we let go a bit, find more ease, and allow life to unfold for us?

The other difference between resolutions and intentions is that goals are made for the future whereas intentions focus on the present moment. When we live our lives in the present moment, there is more joy and we find more success in everything we do.

If you're ready to make a shift this year, here are ways to turn your resolutions into intentions:

• Make a list of everything you want (not need) to happen in your life.

• Ask yourself, what “feels right” versus external achievements you want met.

• Get more specific and detailed. Don’t just write that you want to make a six-figure income, but describe what exactly that would look like, what you might be doing and how you feel creating this money.

• Put your attention on your intentions in the present moment while getting into a deep grounded state.

• In that place of grounding, let go. Know that you are going to be joyful and at peace with your intentions completed, or just as things are in your life.

As the Near Year approaches, commit to creating the life you always wanted. This year, set some deep intentions, be happy with whatever unfolds, and finally make those dreams come true.