Cue your inner movie player and picture a scene when the ball drops and Auld Lang Syne plays softly in the background. We’re meant to cling to our loved ones, reminiscing about days gone by as we clink a little bubbly. Each shared kiss, although it may not begin with Kay, represents hope of what is to come in the year ahead. Hope of something the preceding year did not grant us.
The hope for the new year tends to bring resolutions that more often than not, don’t make it through January. We make resolutions because we know we want to make a change of some sort and we try to hold ourselves to it. This year, instead of making a resolution you are likely to scrap in a few weeks, we invite you to set mindful intentions.
What does that mean?
To set a mindful intention, you should first think about your desired outcome. What do you hope to achieve? Think it through to the finish. Use your senses as you reflect on it. What does the outcome look like, sound like, taste like, smell like, or feel like? Now develop it a little more. What steps do you need to take to achieve the outcome? Make sure to leave yourself some wiggle room as your desired outcome may take twists and turns you didn’t anticipate.
Say What?
Okay, let’s start with a typical New Year’s Resolution: exercise more. Have you ever noticed how the gym is packed in the first few weeks of January and then it levels off? People get tired of their resolution if it isn’t rooted in something deeper.
Making a Mindful Intention Instead of a Resolution
Another approach would be to think about why you want to exercise more. Do you want to lose weight? Lower your blood pressure? Look incredible in a bathing suit? Without a clear idea of why you make a random resolution, you are unlikely to achieve it.
Big Picture Equals Big Success
Perhaps your intention begins with wanting to take better care of yourself. What does that look like for you? It may include going to the gym three times a week so you can lower your blood pressure. It may also include a more healthful diet and establishing a better self-care plan.
By looking at the whole picture you can mindfully make decisions and evaluate your intention day-by-day or week-by-week. Say, for instance, you twist your ankle and are unable to go to the gym three times a week as originally planned. You can still work on lowering your blood pressure by focusing on a healthy meal plan, managing your stress level, and finding an exercise program with a lot of floor work until your ankle heals.
As you set your mindful intentions, remember to stay positive, allow yourself flexibility, and remember to focus on where you hope to end up in December 2018.
If you want to learn more about setting mindful intentions, contact us today!