Goals With Soul: The Difference Between Resolutions and Intentions

I wasn’t always a goal setter and list maker until I understood the importance of getting clear. AND, I never understood exactly HOW to get clear until I learned to focus on how I wanted to FEEL, rather than what I wanted to achieve.

Do you remember a time when you worked insanely hard to achieve a goal, only to realize you didn’t feel the way you thought you would when you reached the end? That’s because we’ve been setting goals all wrong.

“You’re not chasing the goal itself–you’re chasing the feelings that you hope attaining those goals will give you. “- Danielle LaPorte

Once I became awakened to this, my WHOLE outlook on life really changed because I realized I truly could design the life I WANTED.

“Knowing how you want to feel is the most potent form of clarity that you can have.”–Danielle LaPorte 

 

RESOLUTIONS VS. INTENTIONS 

 

There are a few subtle differences between these two:

• Goals are focused on the future. Intentions are in the present moment.
• Goals are a specific achievement. Intentions are lived each day, independent of reaching the goal, and are states of being (think: peaceful, grateful, loving, successful, abundant and healthy).

Here’s an example to put this into perspective:

Say your goal is to make more money. Ask yourself: “What do you think the extra money will bring you?” I would imagine answers along the lines of: happiness, freedom and peace of mind. These are your INTENTIONS or what you really desire.

Next, try and start to feel those feelings of happiness, freedom and peace of mind right NOW. Make small improvements on a daily basis so that you’re feeling the way you WANT to and as often as possible.

When you’re connected to what you intend and already experiencing the outcome, the goal isn’t necessary.

It might seem confusing at first but it’s true: to attract what you really want you must become it. Focusing on the money will not bring you happiness; focusing on what makes you happy will definitely attract the money.

By taking the pressure off of yourself, you trust that things will manifest as they’re meant to.

 

HOW TO SET INTENTIONS FOR THE NEW YEAR

 

 

I don’t really buy into the whole “new year/new me” thing, but I do believe in a little self exploration.  With so much energy surrounding January 1st, it’s a good time to evaluate or re-evaluate what makes you happy and how you want to FEEL going forward.  Remember: “only dead fish go with the flow.”

I highly recommend the book/workbook The Desire Map, which helps you get clear on how you want to feel and set goals with soul. In fact, I just finished the workbook for a SECOND time.

In the meantime, I created a little worksheet to help you set your intentions for 2017. It’s designed to help you first get clear on how you want to feel so you can then set your goals with purpose! Simply click on the photo to be taken to the PDF version, which you can print and fill out!

 

Intention Setting Worksheet:

 

I also wanted to share one of my goals with soul for the new year:

In 2017 I want to feel PEACE. This means doing things on MY own timeline (not society’s) and focusing on what I HAVE (not what others have and I lack). Some of the things I’ll be doing daily to feel peace NOW: meditation, yoga & practicing gratitude daily.

Feel free to share yours in a comment below or shoot me an email babeskills10(at)gmail(dot)com. I’d love to learn more about your dreams for 2017.