Should I Be Setting Some Resolutions For the New Year?

Are you one of those persons that come the new year have set some new resolutions?  You are all Gung Ho to succeed, change something about you, that you know is not benefiting yourself! It could be as big as stop smoking, drinking, lose weight, start exercising, be healthier to have a better posture, don’t eat chips, stop swearing, make your bed in the morning, anything you can think of can be a resolution. It is also a fact that typically, that level of enthusiasm, energy and focus on those resolutions tend to be short lived. Interesting fact, that is why, on average only 9-12% of people keep their new year eve resolutions.   

The definition of a resolution is a firm decision to do or not to do something. Usually, a resolution also has a negative connotation; you must stop or start yourself to do something different, change is difficult. Usually, our resolutions are not small stuff, they are lifestyle changes. 

What can we do to improve on the percentage of people keeping their New Years resolutions? 

So there are the usual tips given; like make it achievable, smaller actions, make a plan, but what if we would change our approach to the new year.  Let's set intentions instead! 

Intentions are things intended, an aim, purpose, or plan to do and achieve. A person’s designs. If we set those and we aim to manifest them throughout the year.  What is so different? It’s because we can visualize them, what would those intentions do to your life! 

Setting intentions is powerful when done properly, but it's more than just setting goals — it's about being purposeful in pursuing your desires.

"Everyone has busy, stress-filled, hectic lives; you barely have time to grab a cup of coffee in the morning, so you think there's no way you have time to set a daily intention each morning, and that's precisely why you need to," says Melissa Maxx, a certified mindfulness coach. "If you don't set an intention, you let the day determine your mood, rather than taking control and determining how you want the day to be."

If you pay more attention to your intentions, it can truly do incredible things for your life. You are taking over your destiny, you become conscious of what you want to create for yourself daily and your life.

"Intention setting is empowering," says Maxx. "Instead of feeling like a victim of circumstance, you become the conscious creators of your days and your life."

Here are some tips on how you can set your intentions. It might sound a bit woo-woo or something you would do when you meditate or start a yoga class, but it's foundational to anyone with goals — aka most any human being, says Jason Frishman, Psy.D. "As you learn and commit to your goals, intention becomes the very first step in achieving them."

Intentions can be both large (think: lifelong) and small (think: for the next day or even the next hour). Either way, they need to be specific and actionable, says Frishman.

They may also be emotional, intentions involve emotions you hope and want to feel about a particular thing or situation in the future. "When you set an intention, it provides accountability and allows you to take control of your personal choices and life. It's about being proactive in your own life, by purposely choosing how you want to live it."

By setting intentions, you actively live your life with purpose. You become present both within yourself and in your relationships. Now a days we call that, to be mindful.

When you set an intention, you’re a building the foundation for what you would like to have, feel or experience, instead of just being passive participant going through the motions. It gives you an opportunity to participate in your life in ways you want to live it.

You want to start by:

Stating your intentions. Vocalize it or write it down, a vision board is a great way to do that, you can express your intentions with pictures, it is a wonderful tool as it can be a thing, an action, or a feeling. Doing so may not only feel cathartic, but it can also help to hold you accountable. Once you are clear on those goals and aligns with your values, make a statement that you can declare to yourself or others. It can be written and posted, it could be by keeping a journal or have a daily reminder or a phrase that you tell yourself. Intentions are most powerful when they are shared or declared outside of your own head." 

Be clear. Whatever your intentions are, "it's necessary to be clear about what you want to achieve and think about the results that you'll obtain from it," says Aura Priscel De Los Santos, a clinical psychologist.

The key is being conscious about where you place your attention — that's the only way to think what you want into reality.

"If you know what you want, it's easier to focus and put all your energy into it," Intentions can help you maintain course even when there are fluctuations. "The intentions are there to remind you why you want to do it and the results you desire." 

Make sure your intentions are positive.  Anything can be an intention, says Maxx. An intention simply gives you a focal point to redirect your energy when it's inevitably pushed and pulled in different directions throughout each day. Just make sure that whatever your intention is, it comes from a place of positivity.

Some examples of intentions include: "Today, I will be present." "Today, I will eat healthy things." "Today, I will be patient." "Today, I will make conscious choices."

"It's important that the intention be phrased as a positive 'I will' rather than a negative 'I won't,'" she explains. That's because research shows negative emotions can overpower their positive counterparts. "Take brief mindful pauses throughout the day to make sure the choices you are making align with your intention."

Keep your intentions simple. Your intentions don't have to be rooted in lofty goals. Rather, they should be feasible and realistically actionable.

As you get more accustomed to setting daily intentions, they become easier and simply part of your daily routine, she says. From there, you can grow into setting intentions for your future, weeks, months, and years down the line. The same rule remains: Be specific about what you want, envision it for your future, and feel it deeply. With time, you'll achieve your goals.

Shift any limiting beliefs. Limiting beliefs are convictions you believe to be absolutely true and that have a negative impact on your life by holding you back in some way. (Think: If you truly believe you're scared of heights, you absolutely won't jump off that waterfall.) Meaning, any doubt that you may have is going to be a blocker for achieving what you intend to achieve

"Not believing you can achieve your intention is a great barrier to achieving your set intentions," says Barbara Santini, psychologist and sex and relationship adviser. Instead, "reframe your mindset to match your desire with your beliefs," and watch as your intentions pave the way forward.

THIS IS A MINDSET.  IF YOU SET CLEAR INTENTIONS, YOU ARE MINDFUL OF THEM ON A DAILY BASIS, IT WILL MANIFEST YOUR DESIRED END RESULTS - IT WILL HAPPEN!