Living with Intention
The transition from one year to the next can be a natural time to reflect and re-engage in purposeful and meaningful ways. And while your dreams may be big and the list of todos may be long, beginning this New Year with a specific intention can provide both the stability and inspiration for a fulfilling year.
What do we mean by intention? At Core Endeavors, we define it as establishing a focus or purpose toward the impact of thoughts or actions, to deliberately act or think in a certain way, or to orchestrate a specific outcome. People operate situationally with intention frequently, and often without much conscious thought. In these instances, intention is more like the “spirit” of the intended outcome. For example, the advice you give to your co-worker that was well-intended but not appreciated; the gift you gave your loved-one that you thought aligned with their interests, but missed the mark of their desires; or the kudos you gave to your Uber driver for navigating rush hour that was genuinely appreciated. Some situational intentions manifest as desired–others fall short. And, intentions we set about other people’s experiences are more like hopes we have for them, though we have little (if any) control over how the other person will interpret or experience our words or actions.
But intention is different when it comes to your impact on yourself. What might happen if you approached your own life with a specific and deliberate intention? This may be a broader personal or organizational mission or vision statement, or perhaps a single word or short phrase that sets the tone and trajectory for the experience at hand. An intention may be toward a purpose-driven experience that is inspired by a focusing word: courage, compassion, curiosity, growth, service, family, leadership, patience, and so on. You can set an intention for a specific experience or event, and you can set an intention to help guide your entire year - maybe even your entire life.
My intention word for the 2023 year is “intention” (you may have already guessed that!). By this, I mean to approach as much of my daily life as possible with purpose and focus and really lean into it–not to just let things happen mindlessly or automatically. For me, this might look like volunteering with a specific mindset of connecting with those I’m serving; with my family it might mean being fully present in our interactions; and with clients it might be listening more deeply to help ensure they achieve their desired results more quickly or profoundly. My word allows me to craft a specific focus to ensure a targeted outcome for me and/or others and serves as a stabilizing and inspiring source. If I’m intentional about my experiences and interactions, it provides a foundation from which to ground myself as well as an aspiration to achieve. I know it will help me slow down, be differently present, and be open to possibility in new or different ways.
How can you choose your intention?
Start with thinking about how you want to experience this next year–not what you want to experience, but instead how you want to experience the “whats” that come along.
Pick something that centers or grounds you as well as lifts you up.
Write it down and post it in different locations that you will easily see.
Keep it top of mind as you engage with life, allowing it to guide your path.
Finally, if the word or phrase you pick doesn’t seem to be focusing or inspiring you, then change it–setting an intention is not meant (or intended…) to be a burden (that actually defeats the purpose altogether).
Whatever intention you choose for 2023, may it bring you enriched experiences and personal growth that provide for a particularly impactful year.
