Intention for the New Year
We create New Year’s resolutions to support ourselves with renewed purpose for what’s really important to us.
But each year, most of them go by the wayside. What’s up with that?
Resolutions are designed that way.
A resolution focuses on events anticipated to take place in the future. Since we can’t know what the future looks like, there’s an element of guesswork in their design.
Added to that, resolutions focus on achievement which can put self-worth at stake. When things don’t go as expected or wished, we can become frustrated and discouraged.
Intentions
This year, I'm experimenting with a way to make this picture more cheerful by focusing on intentions instead of resolutions.
But what is an intention, really?
Intentions are decisions that guide our actions. Many are unconscious, and that’s for efficiency, because the brain doesn’t have the capacity to be aware of all our intentions all the time. But some of these unconscious intentions work against us, among them distractions, which are the subject of my focus on intentions this year.
Observing Habits of Distraction
Here’s the simple activity I’m using to learn more about those decisions I make in the moment, and I invite you to join me.
On an index card, write the following question: “Are you sure?”
Place the message where you’re sure to see it several times a day. (Mine’s taped to my computer monitor.)
Each time you see the sign, pause and ask yourself if you’re sure that what you’re doing at this particular moment is contributing to the larger picture of what you intend for the next couple hours, or for today.
If your answer is no, consider doing something different right now.
If you keep up with this practice for a week or two, you’ll begin seeing yourself habitually moving away from distractions that don't serve you. You’ll also begin to discover renewed purpose and energy in doing the things that are important to you.
I wish you an abundance of renewed purpose and energy for the coming year.
Love,
Jenn