A warm welcome to 2021.
As we enter into this new beginning, it’s helpful to reconnect with the importance of intention - to reflect deeply on what is most important to us.
Intentions are simply about knowing why we are doing what we are doing.
Deep intentions:
· give us direction (they are not destinations)
· set the compass of our hearts
· remind us what we deeply care about
· remind us why we are practicing (or doing whatever it is we are doing)
· help us know what truly matters to us personally
· can motivate us to do what we need to do to move forward even if it means taking risks and moving out of our comfort zone.
One key to happiness is living a life of purpose. When we gain clarity about our intention, a vision arises. This sets the stage for what our year ahead (or the rest of life) could look like. Living this way gives us energy to live our moments with more enthusiasm, as best we can.
As we start this new year, you may like to ask, “What do I want to grow stronger?” What qualities, attitudes, and ways of being do I want to cultivate? What do I want to let go of?
What you practice grows stronger. We know this is true from neuroplasticity. Repeated experiences shape our brain.
To touch into deep intention, it’s helpful to pause; to sit quietly and reflect. Slow down the busy-ness and hurried-ness that so often defines our life, driving us into a state of autopilot (the opposite of living with intention) -- which can feel very numbing and zombie-like.
Here are a few tips on how-to reconnect with intention:
· Pause, take a few minutes to settle the mind and body with mindfulness of breathing.
· Ask yourself the following questions, giving yourself time to let the question drop into awareness, then see what bubbles up:
What do I wish for?
How do I envision my own inner fulfillment?
How would I love to transform?
What qualities would I love to be free of?
What qualities/attitudes/values would I love to strengthen & grow?
What would I love to offer to the world?
How can I make my life meaningful so that when I look back upon my life at the very end, I can look back without regret and have a sense of satisfaction that this was a life well spent?
Choose one core aspect that came up. Write it down as a phrase or word. If you wish, place it somewhere you’ll see it every day to remind yourself which direction to set your compass for your moments, days, weeks, months and years.
Wishing you much Happiness in 2021!