Affirm All You Want

The Power of Intention Over Resolve

By Mia Zachary

When the end of the year draws near and a new start is in sight, the clock is ticking down, but your heart is speeding up. Why?

Because the past eleven months didn’t go the way you’d hoped, so you feel obligated to make some resolutions.

You make a long list of everything you plan to start doing, all of the habits you want to break and the many goals you’re going to set.

But then after only a few short weeks— or even days— your resolutions have been abandoned, forgotten or replaced with more resolutions that will just end the same way…

What happened?

Habits take time to form and longer to break, so most people give up as soon as it gets hard. Goals are usually about fixing something you believe is wrong with you, or getting something that you think will make you better.

You feel pressured to “make it happen”, especially if you told anybody what you’re supposed to be doing, and all you can think about is failing— again.

You can speak all the affirmations you want but as long as you’re focused on the outcome instead of the change, nothing is going to, well, change.

So set Intentions instead of making resolutions. An Intention is the ‘deeper something’, the core importance, the higher ideal at the heart of your motives.

If you step back and look at your resolutions objectively, it’s not really the thing or the situation that you want; it’s the emotional satisfaction you’ll feel once you win.

Goals change, different options present themselves, other choices manifest and new resources become available, right? Think of a goal as a point on a map, but intention as the vehicle to get you there and beyond.

Writing Exercise

What is it that you truly want?

What state of being will bring you Peace of Mind?

Jot down a list of everything you feel, everything you think about yourself and everything you say you want.

Now beside each desire write down exactly WHY.

For example, if you feel stuck at your job and you think you can do better and you say you want to start your own business, then be clear about your why. A goal of getting away from your obnoxious boss and not having to commute for an hour each way is not enough. Do you have a higher purpose? Is there something you are Intended to share with the world?

If, for example, you feel lonely and you think you’ll never find anyone and you say you’re going to try a dating site, then be clear about your why. A goal of having ‘some body’ to text with and hang out with on weekends is not enough. Are you starting with a great self-worth? Are you searching with the Intention of being one member of a loving partnership?

When you know your whys, the well-formed outcomes are inevitable.

Once you know your reasons, begin to create Intention statements. Although both affirmations and Intentions are positive and present-tense, affirmations are passive while Intentions are active.

It’s good to write out an affirmation like, “I am eating better and exercising more”. Better to act on an Intention Statement like, “I intend to be happy and healthy so I can enjoy my life.”

Include power words in your Intentions to keep yourself focused. Power comes from words that move you, resonate within you and hold a connection for you.

On the next page is a list of power words for you to use in creating your Intention Statements. An example might be, “I intend to live from an abundance mentality” or “I intent to be authentic in all relationships.” You can make them as general or as specific as you need.

Sample Power Words For Your Intentions