Steps to Setting Powerful Intentions
SET INTENTIONS INSTEAD OF MAKING RESOLUTIONS
Have you started a new year with a resolution to exercise more, lose weight, or be more productive only to lose sight of your goal within a few months or weeks? If so, you are not alone. Setting resolutions can produce behavioral changes, but those changes are often only temporary. When you set a resolution, you tend to reference the past (what do I need to fix or change so I avoid repeating my past) or your future (what do I need to do to avoid negative outcomes in the future). In this way, your resolutions can anchor your mind in the past and future instead of in the present moment where you actually have the power to take positive action and influence outcomes. So what’s an alternative?
Instead of resolutions, consider setting intentions.
An intention is a guiding principle for how we want to show up and be present in any area of life to find joy and happiness in your life. Setting intentions allows us to step back and view the bigger picture of our lives. By stepping back, we see what matters most, and what we want to create, nurture, and build. So, step back now and ask yourself, What do I want? Why do I want it? How do I want to feel?
See if you can engage with this activity with your heart as well as your mind, and feel your way into what intentions seem wise given your desires. Here are some examples to get you going “I focus on learning instead of being right,” Or you could have a simple mantra, like Life begins now, let go of the past","I am the creator of my reality.” You may want to brainstorm with a friend or family member as you consider what intentions would serve you well. Write down your intentions in a meaningful place so you can remember them (your mind won’t be able to hold onto them until they are well-practiced), or you could even make a vision board where you print out the words and paste them onto a poster or piece of cardboard. Your intentions are here to remind you that your real power to finish your dissertation resides in the present moment.
Practice holding yourself to your intentions on a daily basis. Allow them to help you discern what your next steps are and to align your behavior with your goals. If I declare, for example, that I am willing to struggle in 2019, Whenever you notice you are not working well, it’s likely a sign that you have lost sight of your intentions and it’s time to get back into alignment. Think about your intentions and imagine what it would feel like in your body to be behaving in a way that is informed by them. When you consistently act in alignment with your intentions, you naturally take more positive and proactive action that will bring you closer to finishing your dissertation.
2019 FOR YOU
So what are your intentions for this New Year? What are some actions you can take to bring yourself into greater alignment with your goals and desires? I would love to hear from you. Let me know in the comments! I am are here to be of service to you.
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