By volunteer Contributor

The New Year marks the end of a year gone by, the place where we have come full-circle. Just as the seasons change throughout the year, so do we. We start the year with resolutions that need to be manifested by intentions that we set on a daily, weekly and monthly schedule. With the aftermath of the holiday season filled with fun with family and friends fresh in our minds, these first weeks mark a perfect time to get into our new daily routines by aligning them with our intentions.

What is an intention?

As Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar says: “The path is very long, the goal is in every moment; the goal is where you are.” Mindful intention helps with this goal. An intention is a seed planted in your consciousness, with undivided faith, to be guided in manifesting your goals on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. They help in developing qualities to gracefully direct you towards your goals. Without intention, there is no direction. It’s almost like waking up in the morning without knowing what you want to achieve in the upcoming day.

An intention is always planted in the subconscious and let go, by not being attached to the result of the intention. The magic of intention is that it runs through your very being to be amplified into existence in your day, week, month or year.  

Why should one set intentions?

Intention setting gives you the freedom to explore yourself and manifest the life that you want to lead. Intentions are the baby steps that one takes to reach the top of the mountain, otherwise, the climb up the mountain might seem too daunting of a task. Self-care for our body, mind, and spirit is of extreme importance, and an intention helps to align what you want to do with the actions that you associate with it.  

How to set your intentions

Dream big but start small. Start simple. Start now. Setting intentions can be scary; therefore, you start small, by telling yourself or writing down your intention in a positive, affirmative tone for a predetermined time frame and in the present tense. If you want to go deeper, you can categorize your intentions for yourself, your family, and your society from a space of love and passion. Write a list of intentions, and read them aloud so it resonates with your vision.  

Here are a few examples of present-tense, positive intentions:

·        I love myself for who I am

·        I am happy and content with my life

·        I allow myself to be open to new experiences

·        I live a life of abundance and I am grateful for it

·        I have the wisdom and grace to be guided in all my decisions

·        I am always in the right place at the right time doing the right thing  

When and where to set your intentions

“What is the difference between impulsive action and spontaneous action? Impulsive action comes from an emotional and disturbed state of mind. On the other hand, spontaneous action comes from a very serene state of mind.” ~ Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Intentions are best set when you are in a calm and balanced state of mind. It’s best to write them down after your meditation practice, knowing full well that only the best is happening. They can be done at the start of the day, week, or month, which gives you a guiding timeline to review what you have been setting and how they have been manifesting, allowing you to go deeper into a meaningful and purpose-filled life.

With your intentions set, the last thing to do is to let go and allow the universe to take care of the rest. This allows you to know that as you put the effort to set your intentions, everything around you, including yourself, aligns with its manifestation.