When beginning something new, many individuals set goals for themselves regarding what they hope to accomplish. The goal could be to get promoted within a year by taking more initiative at work, striving to be a better mother by setting aside an hour for your children each day, or maybe losing 5 pounds by going to the gym at least three times per week. The core aspect of each of these goals is that there are steps being taken to actively achieve the goal. In my previous blog, “Setting Intentions When There’s Trouble Achieving Your Goals (Part 1)”, I explained what intentions are and differentiated a goal from an intention in that an intention is taking a statement and framing it in the positive and repeating it daily until it becomes reality. In this blog, you will learn how to set your own intentions.
Here are a few guidelines that I use to set an intention:
1) Use the present tense
Intentions are not about what happened in the past or what you wish for the future. An intention should be directed towards the present moment. To make an intention take effect sooner, you can repeat the intention to yourself everyday. In my personal life, repeating my intentions daily makes them stronger and allows me to achieve them over time.
For example, one of my intentions for The Thrive Group is to expand internationally, to promote the profession of occupational therapy, and to advocate on behalf of my practice. In 2015, I set this intention as the owner of Thrive. I have kept this intention and repeated it to myself everyday since then. When I say it, I feel the truth of the intention. I feel as though it’s already happening and manifesting itself. By maintaining this positive mindset, Thrive first expanded to the tri state area and then overseas to Israel and England. I believed firmly in my intention, and as a result, my intention emerged.
2) Use an “I” statement
Your intention is made for one person…YOU! Therefore, it is important to use the term “I” in the intention.
3) Option: show gratitude to G-d, as if the intention has already been made true.
Recall the last time you were thankful for something in your life. Maybe it surrounded getting a promotion at your job or your child getting a good grade on his test. Regardless of what it was, it was something that already occurred or manifested in your life. We are typically only thankful for things as they are occurring or after they occur. This is why when you set an intention, it is important to feel its manifestation throughout your entire body and mind, as if it has already come true. Then, since you are feeling and being in the moment as though it came true, you can express gratitude for it. Expressing gratitude is a way of having faith and increases the power of your intention.
To further strengthen your ability to set intentions, here are some examples of intentions for adults and children:
- I feel happy and content. G-d, I’m so grateful that I feel happy and content!
- I allow my parents to take care of parenting my younger siblings rather than getting involved. I’m grateful that I don’t need to worry about it because it’s all taken care of.
- I wake up with more energy and clarity. I love the clarity and energy that I have!
- I feel secure in my body and don’t feel the need to _______ (fill in the blank). I’m so happy that I feel good about myself!
- My brain thinks calmly and clearly during the test. I’m thrilled to know I’m getting better and better grades!
- I wait patiently for _____ (fill in the blank). I’m so happy that I feel calmer even when I don’t know the answer.
- I am content with what my parents give and do for me. I love feeling loved!
Your intention can be about a specific event or a more general feeling towards something or someone. The most important thing to remember when setting an intention is that it should be about you and what is right for you at that moment. And now, I’m going to set an intention for all individuals reading this blog – “I feel confident in my ability to set an intention and see successful results!”
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