What are your intentions for this year? New year, new you? Good luck with that.
My intentions are a little closer to where I am right now. New year, same me, different focus. I’ve learned that it is much easier to make incremental changes than it is to attempt an entire re-creation of myself.
Maybe you’re different. Maybe you can set a goal, do what you need to do, and mark it off the list.
For whatever reason, my past goals have been so far from my current position that sometimes I couldn’t really see how to get there from here. This year I’m trying something new. Instead of resolutions or goals, I have set intentions.
So, here we go…
I intend to be truly helpful
According to ACIM, there is a basic prayer that goes like this:
“I am here only to be truly helpful. I do not have to worry about what I say or do because He who sent me will direct me.”
I love this. All I have to do is align with my intention to be helpful. I can do that, most days.
I have used the extended version of this prayer in the past. It’s awesome. This prayer always puts me in the right mindset to provide the most loving support I can in any situation.
Surprisingly, sometimes that means keeping my mouth shut. Other times it means smiling and meeting people where they are at that moment.
I intend to remain in alignment with myself and with God
This one is a little more difficult, not because it’s truly harder, but because it requires a different type of dedication.
In order to remain in alignment, I have to be aware of how I am feeling at any given moment. I have to check in and see how something resonates deep inside of me.
If you’ve never been aware of experiencing this kind of resonance, it’s like looking out at the world and noticing that everything feels right. You didn’t do anything to make it feel right, it just does.
This year I want to notice that feeling more often. I also want to notice when things don’t feel right. I want to pay attention to my instincts or what we call our gut feelings.
When things don’t feel right, my plan is to find a thought or feeling that will bring me closer to alignment. I might not get there immediately, but any movement closer to alignment is better than a movement away from alignment.
The basic question here is this: Does this thought make me feel better or worse? If the thought is true and it makes me feel better, then we have a winner!
Self-reflection
So, what are your intentions for 2018? How do you intend to show up this year?
