There is never a bad time to set new intentions for success. Intentions are a great way to tackle areas of your life that you would like to improve. It’s important to spend some time thinking and setting intentions with purpose, as this helps in ensuring that they’re successful.
Here are our top 10 tips to set intentions that will actually stick:
Think about what isn’t working
When you set intentions, it’s important to think about the ways you’re not meeting your goals, or what isn’t working for your life right now. For example, if you want to exercise more, maybe change your lifestyle if it is more sedentary. Think about the aspect in your life which you want to change, and start your intention journey from there.
Think about how you want to feel
Once you’ve chosen something to focus on, turn it into an affirmation. For example, taking the exercise intention, think about how you want to feel. You might say you want to feel stronger. Turn this feeling into an affirmation, and tell yourself ‘I am strong’.
Check in with yourself
Before you set your intentions, think about your gut instincts and what they are telling you about your goals. It’s important to think about, as our intuition is important. Think about if your new intention is what you truly want, and how it makes you feel. Your intentions should make you feel a big ‘YES’ in your gut. Think about the words and feelings that your intuition tells you, and incorporate them into your intentions.
Use symbols
The unconscious mind communicates using symbols, and using them can help to accelerate changes and make them stick. Imagine a symbol that represents the way you want to feel, and try to use all of your senses. Think of sounds, smells, tastes and feelings associated with your intentions and visualize them. This will help when you think about your intentions.
Meditation
Meditation is great for thinking about and focusing on your intentions. Sit down and imagine your new intention and desired reality. Imagine receiving everything you desire, magnetically without effort or struggle. This will help to regain your focus and keep your intentions close to your heart. You can always visualize a daydream with your desired intention already fulfilled. Visualization will help manifest your intentions.
Set small goals for yourself
While thinking and visualizing your intentions, think about the action steps you can make to make your intentions a reality. Having a plan with small goals is essential to acting on your intentions and reaching your goals. Think of several small steps you can take over the next few weeks or months. This will help you to avoid procrastination.
Find small ways you can meet your goals
If you already have habits where it’s easy to slip your new intentions into, it’s a lot easier to start slowly. For example, if you want to exercise more, try and do something active every time you take a break at work, like stretching or going for a short walk. Instead of finding extra time to add in a new habit, it becomes easier to add it to things you already do.
Brainstorm ideas
After setting your intentions, brainstorm ideas and ways you can bring your new intentions into your life. While you brainstorm, think of your symbol. Brainstorming is a great way to help you come up with ideas to bring your intentions into your day-to-day life.
Connect with your intentions often
Repeating your inventions to yourself in the morning and at night is a great way to stay focused and to increase your ability to achieve them. Try to think of your symbol too, throughout your day, and you will see much more success.
Celebrate your success
At the end of each day, check-in with yourself and see how well you’ve done. Celebrate your successes and check in regularly. Perhaps every morning or evening, while you connect with your intentions. This can help keep your momentum and help to find new ways to integrate your intentions into your life.
By Amy Cavill
Bring your resolutions and intentions to life with the Meditate to Manifest series!