I’ve spent a great many months and countless years trying to stick to New Year’s resolutions. Eat healthier, get to the gym more often, become the Martha Stewart of my friend group, I’ve tried and tested all the typical resolutions out there and none of them has stuck around until March, writes Cape {town} Etc’s Lynn Cupido.
But if we’re being honest with each other, writing a list of New Year’s resolutions is just another holiday tradition, like eating turkey or gammon for Christmas – would it be Christmas without it?
While setting resolutions for the new year is something that everyone does, it’s also something that everyone breaks. Did you know that around 8% of the world’s population actually stick to their New Year’s resolutions? That’s not exactly a lot when you compare it to the billions of people that inhabit Earth.
So, just why do we abandon ship in the first few weeks? Unrealistic expectations and unresolved issues are just a few of the reasons we quit suggest studies. However, a mindful shift to intention setting can be a healthy way to meet goals you’ve set for the year and actually achieve them!
What are intentions?
Intentions are essentially the reason we do something. It’s the driving force and GPS we use when deciding where we want to go when it comes to our goals and visions and is an incredible way to see lasting change in behaviour.
It’s also a great alternative when sitting down and thinking about how you would like to approach the New Year – minus the negative connotations associated with resolutions.
Here’s how you can start setting intentions for 2022:
Set your intention
It might sound obvious, but write down the changes that you would like to create in your life. What would you like to see more of in 2022? Perhaps it’s driving a brand new car or doing more things that bring you joy. Whatever your intention looks like, make sure you dig a little deeper and pinpoint the desire behind the original statement. You may want to purchase that spiffy new Polo Vivo, but if you dig a little deeper, you may identify a feeling of wanting more freedom.
Get clear
Goals are about doing while intentions are about being. Putting pen to paper and identifying the qualities that you’d like to embody that will support you on this journey is a great start. Let’s say you’ve been eager to start writing fiction, so perhaps your intention would be to be more creative – “I intend to make creativity a priority” would be a great intention to set.
Create action steps
So, you have a basic idea of where you’re going, now what? Using your intention as a roadmap, create small measurable steps that will allow you to formulate a plan that ensures you achieve the desired outcome.
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Don’t wait until the New Year
The great thing about intentions is that you can set it daily, monthly or any time of the year. Intentions are merely the guiding force used to lay the necessary foundations for changing behaviours and should be viewed as a lifestyle change and not something we do once a year.
Celebrate the wins
Big or small, make sure you stop and celebrate the milestones. If your intention is to be more creative and you find yourself creating the necessary habits and changes needed to achieve this goal – celebrate. Go for a long walk, take a drive or get that slice of chocolate cake. Our brains have a very interesting way of associating rewards with specific habits, so do more of it if you can!
Don’t beat yourself up
What’s that saying again? We plan, God laughs. Life can hit us with unexpected twists and turns, with tons of obstacles thrown in for good measure. Remember this the next time you find yourself lying face down in the sand. Be kind to yourself, shake it off and get back on the horse.
Read More:
5 Reasons why intermittent fasting should be on your to-do list
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