Like many people, I don’t like ‘having’ to do anything. This is why I cringe when people ask me about my resolutions or goals for the new year.
“Goals,” “Resolutions,” the words sound so inflexible. I’m not a big fan of the word “resolution,” because there’s something rigid about it, and goal-setting in the usual sense can set you up for failure and frustration.This is not to say resolutions aren’t helpful, they just don’t interest me.
What I do look forward to is thinking about my intention for the new year. The word “Intention” is defined as “a course of action that one proposes to follow,” or “an aim that guides action.”
Deepak Chopra says:
“An intention is a directed impulse of consciousness that contains the seed form of that which you aim to create. Like real seeds, intentions can’t grow if you hold on to them. Only when you release your intentions into the fertile depths of your consciousness can they grow and flourish.”
This sounds much more self-directed, more purposeful. Like a journey, with lots of room for discovery along the way.
An intention is something I want to do. It’s a word which represents the type of year I desire. The intention is my own touchstone word, a magical word that becomes an aim that guides my action. I speak my intention (has to be one word for me) and I feel good about all the possibilities surrounding or accompanying that one word.
I’ve chosen an intention for the last four years. One year the word was “Create.” Another year, “Move.” Last year my word was “Refine.”
I had fun writing the word down on a 3×5 index card, drawing the word on the first page of a new journal, adding photos around the word, making wheel spokes out of the center word. For example, with “Create” I attached each spoke to a word that follows ‘create.’ Create joy, create new stories, create gratefulness …and so forth into my own journey.
Last week I mulled over and meditated on a few words. If you’d like some direction on how to do this check out the post by Nicola Gulotta. Some of the words are:
Balance, Connect, Encourage, Release, Nurture, Surrender
My word for the year is “Breakthrough.” The definition is to advance, step forward, progress, and revolution. I like the sound of that last word, revolution.
Another alternative to making new year resolutions, besides an intention, is to make positive changes in a different way. Read this short article by Melissa Eisner. I chose two of the items to fulfill this year.
Whatever you do or don’t do intentions, spend time with yourself for at least 15 minutes and think about your own journey.
You don’t have to come up with a word. Sometimes enough is enough. And that’s fine.
See you all next year:
alvaradofrazier.com 
That sounds like a dynamic word to greet the year with and some good ways of giving yourself breathing space by fulfilling those positive intentions.
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Thank you Andrea. To be honest, the word scared me at first but I mulled the meaning over and I became excited. Happy New Year in your beautiful piece of the world.
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Love that, Mona. I started yoga last January and have been pretty serious about it since then. All the instructors recommend picking a word at the beginning of our practice and to stick to it. At the end of our practice they invite us to return to this word and see what happened to it. I find the idea wonderful as it helps me to focus. Breakthrough is a powerful choice and I can see great moments coming your way.
This is my wish, in any case, for you in 2017!
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Thank you so much for your encouragement. I intend to write a quarterly post on my 2017 intention. You left me curious, what was your ‘yoga’ word & how did this practice work out? Sounds like a post I’d like to read!
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The yoga word can be different at each practice. So it is upon each of us to find ours for that special day. For example if I feel distracted I will pick Focus. And I will return to my choice whenever my mind wanders away from the now-practice. If a part of my body hurts I’ll pick Heal, for example. Or still Let Go if I’m upset or distressed after an argument or seeing a president-elect (I really try to avoid the encounter :))
But you see the way it works.
You have me a post idea since I started yoga as a Christmas gift last year. I could link the power of yoga to the power of words.
By the way I also pick French words. Works as well!
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Where is the “love” button??? Resolution vs. Intention–a subtle yet important distinction. Like you, I too, have never met a resolution I could get on board with. Here’s to more intentions that spring from our deepest desires!
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❤ button is on Twitter & Facebook, please feel free to Tweet or ❤ on FB. I look forward to reading what your intention is for 2017. Happy New Year 🎉🎊
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Ooh, what a great idea. I like using “intention” instead of “resolution.” So often I have associations of resolutions being broken. Happy New Year!
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This is a great idea as well. For 2017, my word was patience and it did work, for the most part. When I found myself antsy (which happens a lot), I reminded myself to be more patient 🙂
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