Setting intentions for 2024: Why is it important to set an intention before a goal?

Intention setting is BIG in the well-being world. That’s because intentions are driven by the heart, and come from one’s inner wisdom vs. goals, which are thought driven and aimed at external achievement or projected outcomes.

Let's break down the difference between an intention and a goal.

While goals are specific, measurable objectives, intentions are guiding principles that shape our actions and mindset. They are centered around how we want to feel and the energy we want to bring into our lives. Intentions allow us to focus on the process and the journey, rather than only the end result.

Intentions come from a place of being. They are creative and non-measurable desires that come from an intuitive impulse. They emerge from the heart, from the soul, beyond the mind. Intentions come from within.

Goals come from from a place of doing. They are pragmatic, measurable and quantifiable objectives that are bound by time. They are concocted by the intellect. and come from looking outward.

Don’t get me wrong. Setting goals is important for progress and success. But often the goals we set, like New Year’s resolutions, end up feeling unrealistic or unattainable and we become discouraged and give up.

An intention is like a mood board for your project.

Since an intention is more feeling based and tells you more about how to be in the world, it provides the tone and thread for any step you need to take moving forward. It also offers support when you feel discouraged. That's why this year, instead of starting with traditional goal-oriented resolutions, I am setting intentions.

Let's say you have a desire to build your dream home. You don't just go out and build it, right?

• First you envision the home; you create a mood board in your mind - a mental image of the feeling you want when living in this home. This vision is your intention.

• Next you need blueprints - plans and instructions of how to build it step by step. Think of these blueprints as your goals, goals that are in line with your intention and that will help you reach the desired outcome.

• Finally, you take small actionable steps, one at a time, in the direction of each goal. Think of these steps as all the little steps needed to reach the summit of a high altitude mountain, including all the research, pre-work, training, gear and practice.

• When you encounter a road block (maybe your dream home is getting too expensive) you turn toward your intention for reassurance and guidance about the next step. When you keep coming back to your original vision, feeling you want for this home, you'll know what to do next. You might need to adjust your goal slightly, or take a different step now but your intention keeps you honest, steadfast and motivated.

And here's how I'm doing this:

• I want to continue to grow my business this year (desire)

• I start with the intention of practicing more self-compassion because I know that I can be quite hard on myself, expect great things from myself and be easily discouraged when they don’t work out. As an entrepreneur, this self-critical tendency instills more doubt than motivation. So I look to my heart and ask myself: As I grow my business, how do I want to feel? The answer is, I want to feel encouraged and I want to feel a level of ease and grace as I take on new challenges this year.

• From this place of being I know that drawing upon self-compassion will help balance my harsh inner critic and keep me steady on my path, especially when expectations aren't met, or I'm feeling like I've failed.

• To remind myself each day (or when I'm in need) I've written down an Intention Statement: 

I commit to being easy on myself as I continue to grow my business and face challenges along the way. By practicing self-compassion, I am acknowledging my vulnerabilities and bolstering my courage.

• I have written this down in a journal. I have written it on post-it notes and affixed them to strategic places in my home and office. I have also written down some self-care routines I can count on to give me restoration and strength.

“Our intentions attract the elements and forces, the events, the situations, the circumstances, and the relationships necessary to fulfill the intended outcome." - Deepak Chopra