With a new year ahead of us, we start thinking about how we can change, become better and achieve our dreams. Which is all fabulous, until we forget our resolutions and revert back to our old, disappointing habits.
I was recently reading “Ring Out The Old New Year’s Resolutions…Try A Theme Instead!” by One Good Thing By Jillee and I loved the idea of setting a theme or intention for the year instead of a specific resolution.
So I started thinking for myself, “What intention would I want to set for 2016?”
I have a lot planned for 2016. For one thing, I’m getting married in June and there’s a lot of events and planning surrounding our big day. It’s easy to say that things can feel overwhelming at times.
Thinking of an intention also makes me reflect on 2015 and what about it I didn’t like or wish I could improve on. For example, I often get swept up in to-do lists. A fun hangout with friends, a dinner party or even a walk with my fiancee can easily become just another thing to check off my list. Being obsessed with to-do lists, and the inevitable frustration that follows, leads me to trying to escape in different ways, like watching too much TV, eating poorly and simply wasting time with mindless distractions.
So, with these things in mind I decided that my intention for 2016 is to be grateful and mindful.
2015 felt like a year of healing for me, physically, emotionally and spiritually. I’ve done a lot of work! And I feel like I’ve definitely seen the rewards of working hard. I’m grateful for the healing I’ve done and I feel ready to embark on a new journey and work on new goals.
I feel that by focusing on gratitude it will help put me back in the moment. If I truly think about it and realize how grateful I am to have friends and family around me, I’ll be more likely to be present and truly take in the entire moment. Being in gratitude also helps me stay out of negativity and depressed feelings. Being mindful will help me enjoy what’s around me, instead of simply thinking about crossing things off of my to-do list. This will also help me stay balanced and not go overboard with bad habits.
Easily set your own intention for 2016 with a few simple tips.
How To Set Your Intention for 2016
- Reflect on what 2015 meant for you. What were you happy with and what would you like to change? This will start you thinking about a direction for your intention.
- Think about 2016. What is coming up for you in 2016? A new job? A larger family? A new puppy? Or what do you hope to see happen?
- Remember there are no rules. This is your intention and it can look like whatever you want it to. It can be specific or broad. The more personal it is, the more likely you are to stick to it.
- Set up reminders. Placing reminders of your intention around your home, office or in your car can be extremely helpful. Create a vision board of pictures that remind you of your intention and place it in a common area, like across your dining table or your desk. Or place a post-it note on your mirror with your intention written on it. Or keep a box beside your bed with a note inside that has your intention written on it and read it every night before bed.
- Use your intention in other areas. When you meditate, pray or do yoga, use your 2016 intention as your focal point.
- You will stray. You won’t be able to stick to your intention all of the time, but having it set in your mind will help bring you back to it when you do stray.
- Don’t beat yourself up. This intention is meant to enhance your life, bring you joy and help you achieve your dreams. Beating yourself up will only promote negative and harmful feelings.
I’m thinking of creating some sort of artwork that I can put in my office across from my desk that says “Be Grateful & Mindful” to help remind me of my intention.
Start your New Year’s Day off right with hope and excitement for the year to come by creating your own 2016 intention. Happy New Year!
What’s your 2016 intention? How will you plan on reminding yourself of your intention?
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