Set Intentions, Not Resolutions

One Intention is Worth a Thousand Resolutions

Photo-Amanda Slater via Flikr

Let’s face it. Resolutions are meant to be broken. Intentions are not. Perhaps it’s because resolutions come from the brain without any real, emotional attachment, while intentions come from the heart, and perhaps even the soul, where your passion lies waiting for something to ignite it.

To be honest, I haven’t bothered with New Year’s resolutions in decades because I never took them seriously enough to alter my behavior. When I did make them, it was the usual stuff: lose x pounds (before I learned using the word “lose” implied I’d want to find them later, which I did, and then some), get a better job, find Mr. Right…the usual meaningless twaddle. I never put my heart and soul behind any of it, so none of it manifested.

Now that I’m older, and hopefully a little wiser, I manifest a lot, but it isn’t because I make resolutions. It’s because I set intentions, and super-charge them by imagining my world when they’ve already manifested. I’ve also learned when manifestation is delayed, it’s usually because I’m getting in my own way with a counter-intention.

Getting Out of Your Own Way

For example, I was having a tough time getting my career as a freelancer moving at more than a snail’s pace. The clients I did attract were anything but my ideal clients. In fact, we fit about as well as a shoe that’s 5 sizes too big, leaving lots of room to shift, and chafe.

I realized my biggest problem lay in denying the skill set I’d spent over 30 years studying, learning, building and growing. I was so focused on making it as a writer, I lost sight of what already worked.

Somehow, I’d gotten it into my head I had to toss the accounting skills out the window in order to attract writing clients I’d love working with. Once I accepted, and even embraced the special niche I have in managing accounting for Government contractors, and small businesses, the road blocks slipped away almost magically. In their place came clients who either utilized my skills in Government contract, or small business accounting, or needed a writer with accounting knowledge.

Manifesting Smoothly, and Easily

Photo-BLM via Flikr

That doesn’t mean I don’t still write for people who help others like coaches, therapists, authors, and more. It simply means I’ve stopped self-sabotaging by blocking out the ones who want and need the accounting side of my brain too. The beauty of it all is I can work on one or the other until I get stuck, frustrated, or finished with a task, then switch to the other side of my brain to work on something else. My ADD brain has never been happier, or more fulfilled.

The best part is, all the intentions I’ve been setting, and feeling frustrated over how slowly they were manifesting have now moved into a place where they flow easily and smoothly. All along, I knew that’s how it was supposed to work. I watched it happening for many of my fellow freelancers and entrepreneurs, but couldn’t engage the magic for myself until I identified the clog, and removed it.

Another aspect of manifesting your intentions is when and where you make them. Speaking them aloud, or silently is all well and fine, and it certainly works. But nothing gives an intention more power than writing it down long hand. Doing so engages the connection between your mind and heart, so they’re on the same page, so to speak. It may also show you where you’re getting in your own way, and blocking the flow.

Changing Your Intentions as You Learn and Grow

It’s important to understand your wants and desires can change as you go along. What you believe with all your heart you want today can, and will change as you learn more about what it is you think you want, what’s out there for the attracting, and what will still fulfill you as you learn and grow.

Some of it is as simple as maturity; your 15-year-old self couldn’t possibly know what would fulfill your 30-, 50- or 60-year-old self. Some of it has to do with an ever-changing world. The rest has to do with an ever-changing you. A career path that looked great in your 20s might lose its luster as the years go by. You might find something you love more than the path your originally chose, or discover aspects of your choice which smother rather than feed you.

What many don’t realize is you don’t have to choose a single path for your entire life. You’re allowed to change your mind. Just beware of shiny object syndrome. Do your homework before you leap, unless, like me, the original path is sucking your soul dry. I’ll be the first to admit there is a time and a place to take the leap, even if you don’t know how you’re going to stay aloft. Sometimes, you have to trust your own wings, which in many are driven by stubbornness, and tenacity.

Feel Free to Experiment

It’s no coincidence I was guided to write this post for New Year’s Eve Day. I want you to know you have choices. The biggest, and one of the most important as far as I’m concerned is whether to set intentions when your heart is full of joy and passion, or make resolutions based on a date on the calendar. Which do you think has a greater chance of success?

You have the choice of whether to stay the course no matter what, or allow yourself to test, evaluate, and tweak your intentions as new information becomes available (and it always does!).

Life is a science experiment. Sometimes, you get the results you want, and proceed accordingly. You can continue doing the same thing, even when you begin to lose enthusiasm or interest for the project like so many people do, or when you lose ground to others who are evolving with the industry. Or you can choose to look into other options, whether it’s expanding on your current knowledge, skills and talents, or taking them in an entirely new direction.

Choices and Risk Tolerance

Whether you realize it or not, staying stuck in something that no longer makes you feel excited is a choice. Granted, it may be the safe choice, which is why so many choose it. If you’re change-, or risk averse, it’s probably the right choice for you. In essence, you’ve chosen security over a life filled with joy and excitement.

As for me, I’m willing to take a few risks, and even fall flat on my face a hundred times if it means I get to live the life of my dreams, and best of all, keep the afore-mentioned ADD brain happy by giving it lots of variety, and a few puzzles to solve.

Grateful for Choices and Intentions

My gratitudes today are:

1. I’m grateful for learning I could set intentions.
2. I’m grateful for the ability to test, revise, tweak, and even change direction entirely.
3. I’m grateful for choices.
4. I’m grateful for the ability to visualize what I want to manifest.
5. I’m grateful for abundance; choices, opportunities, amazing clients, happiness, joy, fulfillment, options, diversity, love, peace, harmony, balance, health, philanthropy, and prosperity.

Namaste

 

About the Author

Sheri Conaway is a Holistic Ghostwriter, and an advocate for cats and mental health. Sheri believes in the Laws of Attraction, but only if you are a participant rather than just an observer. Her mission is to Make Vulnerable Beautiful and help entrepreneurs touch the souls of their readers and clients so they can increase their impact and their income.

If you’d like to have her write for you, please visit her Hire Me page for more information. You can also find her on Facebook Sheri Levenstein-Conaway Author.

Be sure to watch this space for news of the upcoming releases of ” Rebuilding After Suicide” and “Sasha’s Journey”.