Setting an Intention for the New Year

When we roll into the New Year we often think about making a resolution, however they typically last 6 weeks and don't always come from the healthiest mindset. Where as setting an intention  will help you create more clarity in your life, especially when the seed is planted right before you start your daily routine.

You may now be asking the difference between a resolution and intention. A resolution is typically done forcefully, the purpose of the intention is to have you come by it naturally.

The wording of an intention is different too. Some examples of intentions to set are:

• I intend to manifest happiness naturally.
• I intend to respond first, and then react.
• I intend to witness Divinity in everyone.
• I intend to lead by example.
• I intend to be open to success and abundance.
• I intend to stop taking things personally.
• I intend to forgive others, and myself.
• I intend to love unconditionally.
• I intend to make meditation a more important part of my lifestyle.
• I intend to make someone smile every day.

Its time to think about where you should fit your intention into your day, So, what if you tried fitting an intention in this routine as the first thing you do upon waking?

In addition its valuable to embody your intention.

So when you open your eyes, ask yourself: “How do I want to feel?”

Is it to feel... loved? Wholesome? Nurtured? Like a Superhero?

Then invite that in your life though your own actions verbally or physically. Make sure to keep it positive and allow for it to evolve over time.

Using an intention every day is life-changing, because you have an amazing tool to use for the rest of your life. Even if you slip up or feel the struggle, you’ll always have something to fall back on.

Intentionally Seeking Balance

Recently I had an accident that resulted in a surgery, and weeks of pain. In the beginning of this journey I had thoughts of "why me", and "Oh my, my body is not functioning the way it always has". These among other thoughts inline with these influenced me to feel a higher level of anxiety than I typically face on a daily basis. I was scared of the pain, the surgery, of my body never being the same, I was frustrated that I had to ask for help to do simple things like getting dressed and doing my hair. 

Suddenly there was a shift in perception, and no I didn't just become grateful or happy overnight, nor did humility really find me in a way that changed my gut reaction to asking for help. What did shift was, that I started to see this incident as a message to slow down. As an over-achiever and a "worrier" I go 80 mph almost all the time, but this pain has slowed me to about 45 mph, its helped my realize that I have people that will bend over backwards to help, and slowing down is okay. In fact its more than okay its what needed in order to have a balanced life.

What is most upsetting is that, I've done this before, gone 80 mph and wiped out from it. Hopefully this time I will hopefully learn and make an intentional choice to continue to seek balance and slow down in all areas of my life  

I'm Fine

This is the answer people expect from you when they as “How are you?”. I personally can hardly tolerate this distressing transaction. 

Can we as members of society be authentic when we have such exchanges. I highly doubt it. 

On the other hand for the person saying “I’m fine” let’s us hold up our masks that we use to hide from the world. 

When we share this interaction we may be submitting to compliancy, and mediocrity in our relationships or subduing our True Self. If we were honest to the question of “How are you?”, the authentic answers would be more along the lines of: 

I’m stresses

I’m depressed

I’m wanting to forget

I’m tired

I’m angry 

I’m scared

I’m heartbroken

I’m confused

I’m lonely, etc. 

Because we have stigmatized emotions in society sharing anything less than happy is you not following this unspoken social code of engagement. If we continue to engage in conversations in which we deny ourselves true connection we will continue to be “fine” while unconnected. We are agreeing to a less passionate life whole participating in this social code. 

It’s up to us, choose to engage, to feel to be connected, or choose to sit by, to numb, to be disconnected 

The Power of Intention

Do you know what your intentions are when you set out for your day each morning? Do you know how your day is going to go before you step out your front door?
For the first question, I’d challenge you to sit and think about what you want, what you value, and how you feel about where your intentions lay.
The second question was asked to help us recognize that many of us think or assume we know, but in reality we don’t. So what do you know about your day? What you do know, are your intentions, your perceptions of the past, and how you feel in this moment. Going forward in your day with the assumption its going to be a “hard” or “long” day, becomes your current reality, because you begin to believe it and your perceptions becomes your reality. Weaving DBT into your day helps us realize doing whats effective or doing whats one-mindfully will assist in becoming conscious of where you are, what you are, and why you are. Do so with intention, in and of themselves, our words are but symbols that represent our intentions, so create an inner dialogue that is align with how you want your life to be.

Practice this mindfulness technique:
Become an impartial observer of your own thoughts and words spoken to others, and be keenly aware of what the intention is behind the words you say. If you find yourself saying one thing while thinking or feeling another thing, stop and restate it in an affirming, positive or motivating way.