Deepak Chopra said, “intentions are the starting point of every dream—the seed of creation.”

A well-set intention is a statement of pure, clear, decisive focus that kick-starts the process of aligning your whole being and your whole life to your desire. When you are clear, firm and decisive about your intention for the year ahead, it is a bit like you’ve placed a cosmic order for what you request. 

Intentions contain more commitment than desires. And intentions are less specific—less rigid and, thus, less likely to trigger unhealthy attachments to outcomes—is what goals generally do. Setting meaningful, effective intentions involves both spiritual and practical strategies.

Here are three secrets for setting New Year’s intentions that can kick-start a season of breakthroughs for you in 2021

1. You cannot set a powerful intention from a powerless place. 

That what you focus on grows, you’ve probably heard this adage a million times! So, if you start setting your 2021 intentions from the place of thinking about the desires or goals you DIDN’T reach in 2020, you’ll receive MORE of the exact same.

On the other hand, if you start setting your 2021 intentions after having celebrated and being aware of the learnings, growth, experiences you’ve had in the previous year…you’ll acquire MORE like that.

Before you begin to set intentions for 2021, metabolize the last year in the same way your body metabolizes food: Sit down with a journal, get still and quiet, then note, name and decide what you want to release.

Take your own sweet time savoring, chewing on and digesting the events and experiences of the year you found nourishing and want to call in more of. This might include the beauty of our planet that you took in, every time you took a walk, or it could be the creative work or hobby you began this year. It can even be a time when things looked dark, but everything worked out for you in the end.

Be sure to contact your friends or family who are always up to celebrate with you and do just that: Tell them what you’re celebrating from 2020. 

2. Set intentions that are a stretch, not a struggle. 

Let your INNER GUIDANCE be the boss of the intentions you are about to set. Sometimes, it’s hard hear your INNER GUIDANCE, because so often we allow it to be outvoted or overruled by the voices of our FEARFUL INNER CRITIC.  Cultural norms like status and money, and even the perceived “shoulds” or judgments from the people in our lives often steer us away from our INNER GUIDANCE GPS.

Setting an intention based on fear, other people’s opinions, or trying to prove your worthiness, will trigger your emotional struggle switch, flipping it on it on to full power.

When setting your intentions, it should feel like a bit of a stretch compared to where you currently are on the matter. They should not be feeling like a big struggle to your spirit.

Well-crafted intentions will provide you more energy as you move closer to toward them, even if that takes some work and effort on your part. If the intentions you set feel like they will deplete you or flip the struggle switch on, return to the drawing board. 

3. Well-set intentions concern the “what” not the “how.”

The whole point of intention-setting is to kickstart alignment of all the components of your inner being and outer life with the desires you’re making and a heart-level commitment to move toward. 

Remember: What you focus on grows.

Focus on your desires. -That grows. Focus on the problems you might encounter. - That grows, too.

By listening to the callings of your INNER GUIDANCE and taking the next step toward answering them, you arrive where you need to be, and you become who you need to be in order to answer your callings. Falling into the worldly way of action-planning, will remove all the energy out of them.

Set your intentions based on your own Inner Guidance, stay loose enough to see all the opportunities and beauty. The natural next steps of this process will guide you toward your intention and the path before you will be revealed step-by-step. 

Here are 6 examples of well-crafted intentions to help you get started!

1. I will aim to get an average of 7 hours of sleep and 10,000 steps a day, to feel maximally alive and well in my body! And when I don’t get those, I’ll delight in the opportunity to start all over again the next day.
2. I will consciously increase my awareness of abundance, and that will result in a constantly increasing income–by grace, in a wonderful way.
3. I will give myself the gift of a Sacred Pause anytime I want or need it, to recalibrate, recharge and investigate whatever I’m feeling with kindness and compassion.
4. Every day and every week I will re evaluate my calendar and clear things that feel burdensome, trapped or constricting when it is in my power to do so.
5. I intend to see friends I love and who love me at least once a week even if it is a virtual date or a safely distanced winter walk in nature.
6. I will move 10% slower, when I can this year. There is nowhere else I’d rather be than where I am right now. 

Get started! Grab your journal and begin writing! 

Wishing you all a New Year full of grace, abundance, good health and new beginnings!

Amy 

Cancer Care Counsellor