I love this time of year! Not just because of the holidays, but because I can review my progress and set intentions for the new year.

Setting intentions are not the same as setting goals, and I’m not talking about New Year’s resolutions. Confused? I was too when I first discovered the concept of intention setting in the work of Dr. Wayne Dyer and other thought leaders such as Rhonda Byrne (The Secret) and Jack Canfield (Chicken Soup for the Soul).

So what is the difference between setting an intention and setting a goal or New Year’s resolution? Well, it has to do with your intentions! The word “Intention” has multiple meanings, which hint at its being imbued with something more than just an idea, goal, or desire. For example, in Medicine, intention refers to “the healing process of a wound”. In earlier centuries, people would be asked to “declare their intentions” before a marriage (or a duel!) which hints at the importance of speaking an intention out loud.

By contrast, resolutions are built on your resolve, determination, and perseverance. These are feelings and emotions that help motivate people to take action towards a goal or intention. However, all too often, after setting New Year’s Resolutions, people run out of steam. Their resolve diminishes because they aren’t seeing or experiencing evidence that they are making progress.

On the other hand, goals have measurable results. They are the details and milestones used to measure progress. We can successfully set goals for our intentions and measure our progress as long as we keep them realistic, such as setting small, or short-term, achievable steps and actions that guarantee results.

If you’d like help setting intentions or goals for 2018, contact me for a free initial consultation. My intention this year is to help as many people as possible achieve their dreams!

Best wishes for a very happy holiday season — and may all your good dreams come true!

Rebecca