How to Set Intentions In Seven Simple Steps

Ready to start over? Then you don’t really need a fresh page on the calendar or a monday morning to get started because today is as good a day as any to make a few changes.

So, let’s get started with these 7 steps for seting new intentions...

ALLOW YOURSELF TO DREAM
What would your ideal life look like? How would you feel when you woke up every morning and what would you spend your days doing? Now, I know that these are big questions but don’t let them overwhelm you. Focus on each one for a few minutes and see where your mind takes you, it might reveal something that surprises you!

Don’t concern yourself with how you’ll achieve everything, right now. This is simply an exercise to help you get clear on what you’d really like your life to look and feel like.  Be sure to write it all down and use it as a blueprint for taking small steps towards your new intentions in the coming weeks and months ahead.

BREAK IT DOWN
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” Lao Tzu. I remind myself of this often because at the beginning of something new it can feel like you have a mountain to climb. Rather than feel overwhelmed by how long the journey ahead is, I find it much easier to break it down into smaller steps - with milestones to celebrate along the way. 

Think of it this way, if you were training for a marathon...you wouldn’t expect to be running 26 miles during your first training session would you? You’d expect to pace yoursdelf and work up to it gradually. Do the same with your new intentions. Try writing them out on paper and then create a plan to reach them step by step.       

CLEAR SPACE
Want to know the first thing that I do when I’m ready to take action towards a new set of goals or intentions? I declutter. Not only does it help you to let go of the past and release anything that no longer serves you but it lightens your home both physically and energetically.

So, where should you begin? If there’s a lot to get through then start with the rooms that you use the most. Avoid overwhelm by taking things slowly but try not to let yourself be dragged into the past; leave sentimental items like photographs until the end and tackle those all together.   

For a deeper energetic home cleanse, you might want to carry out a ritual using white sage; take a look at our Home Cleansing Ritual Kit for more details. 

MEDITATE
Meditation can be helpful in setting your new intentions and bringing them to life because it teaches your mind to turn down the volume of those busy thoughts and focus on what really matters. I love to meditate and have lost count of the moments of clarity that often follow my daily practice; everything from spiritual guidance to new product ideas - it’s life changing and I encourage you to try. 

If you’ve tried to meditate in the past and found that it didn’t seem to work for you then here are 3 reasons to give meditation another try. 

DAILY HABITS
How often have you set new intentions, only to let them slide within a day or two? Let’s try and avoid that by creating daily habits that support your new intentions. The best thing about creating habits is that they soon become such a part of your everyday routines that you don’t even need to think about them.

So, if you’re planning on eating more healthy foods, swap a lunchtime sandwich for a salad (watch the dressings) every day without fail. If you’re on a healing journey then be sure to create quiet time for yourself every day. These only need to be small things but they make sure that you stay focused on your new intentions and take steps in the right direction every day.       

PROGRESS
Don’t underestimate the power of tracking your progress, nothing keeps you more motivated to continue like seeing how far you’ve already come. Write down your daily progress in a notebook or use my FREE 30 day habit tracker to help you get started. Be clear about your intention and chart every day that you take a small step towards your new life. Keep it somewhere you can see it and be sure to celebrate your progress - no matter how small - at the end of every month. 

 

POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS
I love anything that helps to keep my mind on track and keep the negative thoughts at bay! And, positive affirmations work well for me, so I thought that it was worth mentioning them. What I love the most is that you can use them anywhere and they help you to stay focused on what you’re encouraging into your life.  If you’re new to positive affirmations then read more about them and learn how to create your own.

Remember, we can all do something that moves us closer to our goals and intentions for this life and while I hope that these tips for setting new intentions have been helpful, the power to create change lies in your hands - so are you ready to get started? 

AUTHOR: LEANNA DOOLIN

Co – Founder of holistic skincare brand, Pure Thoughts and advocate for women finding pause in their day to breathe deeply, give thanks and reconnect to what matters. Loves early mornings, dogs and books that you can’t put down.