Recently, media and celebrities alike are creating a new paradigm saying that 40 is the new 30, 50 is the new 40 and so on. In that spirit, I thought I’d propose that September is the new January! People tend to start new cycles in their lives at this time of year – children go back to school, adults take a continuing education class, and those in the workforce tackle new projects. So, hurray and Happy New Year!
If this is the start of a new cycle, what’s in store for you? Instead of resolutions or goals, I suggest creating overriding intentions or life “themes”.
Stephen Shapiro, author of Goal-Free Living says, “When you are consumed by your goals, you focus on the future rather than being present to what is around you. Life seems like a sacrifice. You become stressed as you work hard towards your goals. As a result, you rarely perform your best (there’s a reason why 92% of New Years Resolutions fail). And to make matters worse, because you are so focused on your future goals, you often miss “hidden” opportunities that would bring you even greater success and happiness.”
On the other hand, creating intentions takes into account the bigger picture of your whole life. It is about capturing the essence in a few words, and describing what you want to accomplish in all areas of your life. You can set an expiry date of 3 months, 6 months or a year from now, when you can re-evaluate where you are and what new intentions would serve you best. Base your intentions on what brings you joy, resonates with your heart and makes you smile when you say it.
For example, I just moved to an island near Vancouver. Yup, an island. Three months ago we simply looked around and decided this was our dream home and environment. And now we’re here and I pinch myself everyday. My theme for the next few months are “community” “focus” and “learning”. I am very excited to be involved and meet new people in the community, so I am putting myself in situations where that is possible – whether it’s talking to other parents at the pre-school, exploring the island or attending local events. In my businesses, after the fun and sun of summer, I am buckling down to focus on preparing new service offerings and consciously saying no to opportunities that don’t inspire me. And learning? It’s like another form of food for me. Something I hunger for and need to feed.
As you explore who you are, and what you want in life, listen for the words that come to you. Perhaps it’s Balance. Or Letting Go. Or Personal Growth. Passion. Rejuvenation. Leadership. And for type-A’s like myself, maybe it’s even…Patience.
Whatever you come up with, use it as your filter in making decisions and determining where you put your time and priorities. Not only will you be happier, you’ll never “fail” at goals or New Year’s resolutions again.
Do the Try It Out exercises below to help you set more powerful intentions
- What would you like to accomplish both personally and professionally that would bring joy and fulfillment?
- Looking at this list, what are the themes that come up or what is the essence of what you want to experience?
- Pick 3 – 5 intentions and share them with friends, family and colleagues. Post it where you can remind yourself everyday. By sharing and making it “real”, you will be more conscious of making decisions aligned with your intentions.
“There are only two things you “have to” do in life. You “have to” die and you “have to” live until you die. You make up the rest.
-Marilyn Grey
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