As the new year approaches many reflect on what has transpired over the past year. There is often talk about creating resolutions for the year to come. There can be negative feelings associated with this as often times, resolutions fizzle out and then you end up disappointed or feeling down on yourself. Instead, when reflecting about what the new year will bring, think about what intentions you want to set. A resolution or goal is something external, while an intention is about feelings, and something internal.
Intentions
- When sitting down to reflect on the new year, this article has some things to keep in mind. What do you want to practice moving forward?
- To learn more about intentions vs. resolutions, Psychology Today has a great resource. Learn more about the difference between the two items, what intentions mean, and how to set intentions. There is also support on how to carry out that momentum throughout the year, so you don’t fizzle out by January.
- InsightTimer is an app for meditation. It has a variety of themes and lengths for meditations. They have courses, workshops, and music to assist in your meditation journey. They even have a 15 minute meditation that can help with setting intentions for the new year.
Resolutions
Creating resolutions or goals is not a bad thing. Some examples of goals are learning to ski or making more time for creativity. If you would like to reflect about goals you would like to accomplish check out the article by NPR LIfeKit. They have curated a piece that inspires you for the new year and resources to aid in your journey.
Give it a shot
Remember to take it slow. You can always do a check-in as the year progresses to help keep you on track and provide space to reevaluate as needed. It isn’t always about getting from start to finish, it’s about the journey you take along the way. If you or someone you know would like to speak with a therapist about setting intentions and working towards goals, visit our website.