At the beginning of the calendar year the powerful element of Time shouts to everyone ‘It’s time for new, it’s time to manifest, to make resolute, to affirm’. This announcement may or may not come at a good time for you. Setting intentions is a constructive and compassionate way to bring more of what you want into your life.
What is an intention?
An intention can be understood as an attitude or a theme that brings alignment between a person’s way of being and their belief system. The Sanskrit word for intention is Sankalpa, San meaning ‘connection with highest truth’ and Kalpa ‘a solemn vow’. Habitually checking in with an intention motivates thoughts and behaviours to be aligned with beliefs or our ‘highest truth’.
You may choose a one-word intention that you want to align yourself with such as truth, light, peace or resilience, allowing this to be the lens you look through this year. Intentions can come in the form of clear and specific wishes for each day to support your overarching intention.
10 Intention practices that the brain will happily turn into new habits.
- Set intentions at the same time of day. Mornings are good as the brain is malleable on waking. Mentally whisper your intention before your feet hit the floor when getting out of bed.
- Write your intention down, using a specific notebook with a pen attached. Ensure the notebook is very accessible.
- Journal about your thoughts and behaviours that are aligned with your intention. This can motivate and inspire your practice. Write one word intentions on a stone and leave it where it will catch your eye throughout your day.
- Focus on want you want to bring into your life instead of what you should do today.
- Practice patience! It takes an average of 66 days to establish a ‘doing habit’ such as learning a new skill or breaking a ‘thinking habit’ such as ‘I’m not good enough to do this job’
- Keep intentions simple, meaningful and timely
- Link intentions directly to what you want more of. Truth, ease, resilience, gratitude
- Make intentions applicable and achievable
- Share your intentions with others – this can help maintain our interest and motivation. It can also inspire others.
- ‘Heart speak’ – Consider allowing the heart as well as the mind to speak your intention. This ensures the intention is authentic and meaningful to you
What lens would you like to look through this year?
Examples of daily intentions
I intend to self-care during my conversations with _________ today. (Linking to resilience)
I intend to use my senses to notice goodness around me today. (Linking to gratitude)
I intend to notice if I have unkind thoughts about myself today (Linking to self-compassion)
Intentions – not to be confused with goals – are concerned with how a life is lived today, on what a life is becoming. Goals tend to be future-orientated and focus on what we want to get or where we want to go. By living intentionally, we naturally come into alignment with our beliefs and our goals are attained as a result of this.
The present moment is the
Substance with which the
future is made. Therefore,
the best way to take care
of the future is to take care
of the present moment.
What else can you do?
– Thich Nhat Hanh
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