Intentions vs resolutions

The new year is approaching and the days leading up to it are filled with Christmas celebrations and setting resolutions for the next year. We all know the classics: I want to lose more weight in X year, I want to start that hobby that I have been postponing since 2010, or I want to start meditating. Only to keep up with these resolutions until the second week of January and falling back into our old habits. 

Don’t get me wrong, resolutions are very important. They give us hope and direction and both of those things are great, but our resolutions often lack the support to actually carry them through. How could we offer them this much needed support?

First of all, I would change the term resolutions to intentions. When we mindfully pause and set our intentions based on our values that come from within, they will more likely be in alignment with what we really want and what we are willing to work for. So, before you start, just stop for a few minutes and settle your mind and thoughts in meditation and prepare to set your intentions. 

Second, look at the changes that you wish to see in the coming year. Choose one or two that you feel are the most important ones and you feel excitement for in your mind and body. It is important that this is something that excites you and is not based on what others expect from you and what you ‘’should’’ do. This intention can be broad, such as I want to experience less stress or I want to become healthier.

Third, write down the core values that describe you and determine the choices you make in your life. For example, honesty or perseverance could be one of your core values. Sometimes this is the hardest thing to determine, but it doesn’t have to be. Just think about the driving force behind many of the things you do in life and try to find a fitting word for it. 

Finally, combine the values with your intentions to give them the power to persist throughout the year. What I mean with this is for example, I want to work out more because I value my well-being. Or I want to start mediation because I value being emotionally resilient. This could be anything. I want to start this hobby because I value my creativity. By adding your value to the resolution, you will always have the bigger picture in mind which will make it easier to follow through. 

However, the most important part of setting intentions is allowing for it to unfold in your life in an unforced way. Not meditating or working out when you said you would is not the end of the world. When we start rejecting ourselves because we were not able to persist with our intentions, these intentions transform into punishment and who wants to keep punishing themselves right? So the core values you should attach to all your intentions is to be kind and non judgemental towards yourself in keeping up with your intentions and to realise that every day you can start over again.