As I have mentioned many times (so many times, I’m worried about being boring) I am NOT a New Year’s resolution person and have never set goals for myself at the beginning of the new year.
I appreciate that we are not all the same but if you too shy away from new year resolutions but want to start the year with some sort of positivity, intentions could work for you instead.
What’s the difference between intentions and resolutions?
A goal – or resolution – is the object of a person’s ambition or effort; an aim or desired result. We are usually looking for a specific result at the end of our journey i.e I want to get fitter this year, so I am going to go to the gym at least 3 times per week.
An intention is more generic – a thing intended, an aim or plan. i.e I am going to continue to work on my boundaries by taking a step back in certain situations.
These might not sound very different, but for me, intentions are more gentle. Intentions tend to be things I am already working on and want to continue learning about and improving. Unlike goals with defined finish lines, intentions are meant to guide us on a continuous journey. They shape our choices and actions without demanding a specific outcome.
How can we set intentions for the year ahead?
Rituals hold a special place in my heart when it comes to setting intentions.That might be writing down my intentions in my journal and then reading through them in a quiet space with a glass of wine or sharing them with my best friend, talking through what I’m working on – these small ceremonies imbue my goals with magic.
There doesn’t need to be accountability with intentions, not in the same way we do with goals. Intentions can be noted down and then reflected on throughout the year. I tend to only do this around September, and then again at the end of my year to see how I’m doing.
Some ideas for intentions.
- I am going to protect my personal space more this year.
- I am going to continue to avoid other people’s dramas – not my circus, not my monkeys.
- I am going to look at ways to have more fun, more silliness in my year.
- I am going to care less about what others think.
These are just a few examples and might help you think of what yours could be. Remember, this is all about YOU, this is about things that help you grow as a person, that nourish your soul, the things that top up the energy levels and make you feel good about yourself!
You’ll be surprised what a shift in mindset these can create – have fun with them and see how it shapes your year ahead.
