Forget Resolutions, Focus on Intentions

 

Happy New Year! It's the first blog of 2022, and I am sure you all are back to school, back to work, back to reality. 2021 was quite a year, but despite the losses and heartaches, there was also a lot of good in my life. So I am truly grateful for that and how the year shaped me.

But all that is so last year let's talk about resolutions. Most of us think of the New Year and the promise of new beginnings and then write a bunch of items we want to accomplish before the year ends.

Now that is not to say that many people accomplish their goals and find this to be a great way to stay motivated and focused. But a lot of us are on the other side of that boat. We set goals and then cave under the pressure of the high expectations we set for ourselves and then end the year disappointed.

The reason for this is simple: Resolutions are binary and fixed, so you either succeed or fail. That can play havoc on the mind. Intentions can have several outcomes, and if things are not going as planned, you can stop and pivot. When you are intent, you have a goal, objective, plan, and purpose. You are more determined to achieve your intentions, and with every stumble, there is a lesson to be learned. 

Let's take the classic weight-loss resolution - I want to lose x amount of kgs this year or be x amount kgs on the scale. What is the actual plan here? Are you going to go on crash diets or exercise yourself to death? And then when you don't reach your goal, what then? Stop completely and then put back the weight loss plus a couple kgs more? 

Why not be intent on getting fit? You can start by aiming not to be out of breath every time you walk for more than five minutes. So the first step is putting on your walking shoes every day and then actually getting out of the house. Once you can do this then aim for a walk down the road and back. As this becomes easier, increase the distance. By the time you realise you can walk for more than five minutes, you would have accomplished four goals already. And by the end of the year, you would have lost some kgs, trimmed down that waistline and feel great.

You can do this with every resolution you aimed for this year and I suggest you do. I for one get anxious if my goals are too rigid. I need flexibility so I focus on smaller goals and look at objectives that I am struggling to reach. That's where reflection comes in and the ability to pivot.

The pandemic has and still is affecting the mental health of every single person around the world. Having intent is a kinder way of helping us get through it while still achieving and being better versions of ourselves.

I am hopeful for 2022, for you, for me and the world.

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