INTENTIONAL LIVING

SPRING FORWARD THROUGH INTENTIONAL LIVING

Did you make New Year’s Resolutions? I didn’t. I don’t believe in them. Yes, I said it (gasp)!

If you made them, are you still on track to achieve them? According to US News, 80% of New Year’s resolutions were likely abandoned by mid-February.

Resolutions tend to be broad, sweeping statements packed with unrealistic expectations. Perhaps the dismal statistics are a result of us setting unrealistic resolutions, year-after-year, hoping for a different outcome.

Let’s forget about them all together.

I’m not suggesting we lower the bar on our goals and aspirations, I’m suggesting we approach them differently. Here’s how:

BE INTENTIONAL

Intention drives purpose and means we are not leaving things to chance or luck. Life doesn’t happen TO US when we live with intention. We are creating our path and deciding how to use our time. Identify what matters to you and open yourself to the possibility of attracting the people, habits and knowledge that can help you achieve this.

SET YOUR INTENTIONS AT ANYTIME

Abandon the stress of a yearlong resolve and live in the present, today. What matters in the here-and-now? Life changes, we change, our goals change, and that’s OK. Set a goal for getting through your Monday meeting without getting frustrated, if that works for you. Haven’t you ever felt like getting through a long day was an achievement? I have! When you know a day like that is coming, why not set an intention for how you will approach it, react to it, and conquer it?

KEEP IT SIMPLE

This is one of our mottos at S.T.O.R.E. by Steph. Often the simplest approach is the best, has the most success and causes less stress. It’s the simple things and often the smallest of things that make us smile each day.

AVOID GENERALIZATIONS

Break big picture goals into manageable baby steps, and set shorter-term intentions to achieve them.

“I want to lose weight” becomes “I will lose two pounds per month”

“I want to save more money” becomes “I will save $100 per month”

“I want to get organized” becomes “I will donate one bag of clothing or household items every other month”

This allows us to track our progress and creates a path to achieving a big-picture objective.

CELEBRATE THE SMALL SUCCESSES

I suggest this approach in most things we do and use this idea with clients all the time – and myself too! I don’t like to file my own papers so I set aside time to do it, I actually set the timer for 10 minutes, power through it and reward myself with a cup of coffee after. It’s the small things. It may sound corny, but try it. Be intentional about it and see what happens.

LOOK FORWARD

Let go of disappointment and unrealistic expectations. Set your goals and intentions based on what matters to you – not anyone else – and continue to look forward. Drive your destiny. Each day is a new beginning.

You got this!