Setting Actionable Intentions - Not Resolutions - in 2021
by Mousumi Behari, originally published on LinkedIn
Welcome to 2021! The promise of the new year often brings about a desire for change, and while I am excited for the new possibilities, as a strategist I can’t help but think, What is the best strategy to create positive change for me, my company and my community?
Many will set goals or resolutions for the new year, however meeting a goal successfully comes from intentional action, thought and guidance.
What is the difference between a goal and an intention?
The biggest difference between a goal and an intention is timing. A goal is something you set for the future that you wish to meet in a specific amount of time, whereas an intention is something you can practice now, everyday.
A goal typically has an end, a destination if you will. It has value in that it helps us create a plan and track our progress so that we can feel we are accomplishing something. The downside of a goal however is, what if you don't reach it? And in a year like 2020 where there were several unexpected detours, completing the goal didn't happen for a lot of people.
An intention feels more tapped into our emotional energy and helps create inner strength. Think about what makes you happy, what gives you purpose, and then set actions that will help you achieve that feeling. Setting intentions will create healthy habits and mental focus.
Ideally, you want to do both. Think of setting goals as a specific outcome to aspire to, and the intentions you practice guide your thoughts and actions to be aligned with your goals.
“Reach high, for stars lie within you. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal.”
Here are some steps to designing the life you want to lead.
Visualize: Spend some time in a quiet space thinking about what you want to see for your personal and professional growth, your financial growth, your relationships, and other areas that are important to you. How does this future make you feel? Meditation is also a helpful tool to seeing that vision.
Define Your Personal Mission Statement: As my colleague Challin Meink writes, this is the North Star for what you do, a guiding principle of sorts. Anchoring your goals in a specific purpose will enable you to pivot if needed but still have the North Star to help guide you.
Set Your Goals: You will want to set goals in the areas of life that are important to you. Think of a timeframe and a goal that is achievable in that amount of time. Remember, it doesn't always need to be a huge goal. You can set smaller goals, and once you complete that, set the next one. This method leads to less frustration, and remember, it's progress, not perfection. Think about what you would like to learn, how you would like to progress and how it will make you feel to accomplish those goals.
Address Your Challenges: What factors do you foresee that may keep you achieving your goal? Thinking about this will help you create intentions that counter balance these challenges.
Create Your Intentions: Create intentional thought and actions you can do everyday to help you get the life you've always wanted. Share it. By communicating your intentions you help amplify your thought while keeping yourself accountable. Also remember that change can be uncomfortable, but it means you are growing
Here is a simple worksheet you can use to help guide your journey in 2021! I would love to hear about your progress, leave me a comment, and remember to be kind to yourself.
Here are also some resources I have found that may help you in your process:
Anoume.com - Change Management Consultant and Energy Healer Depika Mistry has a pre-recorded meditation on intention setting and energy clearing for 2021 along with questions to ask yourself
The Oprah Magazine - How a One-Word New Year's Resolution Can Help You Set the Best Intentions for 2021
The Happiness Lab - Yale professor Dr. Laurie Santos has studied the science of happiness and found that many of us do the exact opposite of what will truly make our lives better. This is a series of podcasts
Psychology Today - Set New Years Resolutions or Live with Intentions Now
