“Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Many of us get all stoked up to make New Year's resolutions. The fact is, we often cannot keep those resolutions past January. What about an alternate tradition of setting intentions instead? The truth is, most New Year's resolutions revolve around things we know we should do anyway, such as losing weight, eating more vegetables, exercising every day, having good posture, or living a life that fosters well-being.
When you set an intention, on the other hand, the idea is to manifest something that you want to do. It is a call to action and often marks the beginning of a dream or desire. Intentions are about the longings that have been haunting us. Our intentions can have to do with things such as relationships, love, self-improvement, or career, and affect our emotional, physical, or psychological selves. An intention is a positive call to action about something you want to do, rather than something you don’t want to do but feel that you “should.”
The Vedic text, more commonly known as the Upanishads states, “You are what your deepest desire is. As your desire is, so is your intention. As your intention is, so is your will. As your will is, so is your deed. As your deed is, so is your destiny.”
Tips for setting intentions:
1. Choose a broad, less specific goal for an intention than you would for a resolution: For example, improving health, lowering stress or becoming more mindful or present.
2. Get specific about ways to achieve that intention. For example, using less technology, spending more time in nature or meditating.
3. Plan how to incorporate those efforts into your regular routines.
4. Use a journal to make note of your intentions and your successes as the year continues.
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