~Bailey Shawley, M.Ed, CCTS-F, Specialized Parenting & Educational Consultant
Preparations for the holidays are in full swing, and I’ve seen several advertisements for exercise equipment, weight loss products, and fitness centers and gyms. Thus, the pressure is on to set New Year’s resolutions, and those industries hope to profit from our holiday insecurities. Interestingly, research shows that 62% of Americans who made resolutions for 2024 felt pressured to do so, and only 9% of Americans kept those resolutions. If we make resolutions only because we feel pressured to do so, it’s no surprise that we don’t keep them. That’s why this year, I encourage you to set intentions rather than making resolutions.
Intentions are thoughtful, purposeful statements of desire. When we set intentions, we mindfully determine what we want to do – without feeling pressured or guilted into doing so. When we set intentions, we are realistic about our capabilities, yet we also challenge ourselves to change our behavior and do something (at least a little bit) outside of our comfort zones. The best of intentions also include plans for support and accountability… which means that you cannot wait until New Year’s Eve to set your intentions, even if that’s how you have made your previous resolutions.
If you are new to setting intentions, a simple way to start is determining the word that you want to focus on for 2025. For example, you may like the idea of making 2025 about “presence” or “peace.” Setting an intention focused on “presence” could mean that you will work on increasing mindfulness, eliminating distractions, unplugging more, and avoiding multitasking. Likewise, an intention centered on “peace” could mean that you will create a serene atmosphere in your home, say no to events that will trigger or overwhelm you, and set boundaries with people who cause you distress in some way. Intentions such as these allow you to be flexible and make progress toward bettering yourself. Conversely, resolutions make us feel like we need to be perfect or that all hope is lost if we “break” our resolution just once.
Another way to set intentions is thinking about an area in which you would like to grow over the next year. Some people want to make progress in developing a hobby or engaging in their hobby more consistently. Some want to set a physical health goal such as walking more frequently. Some want to set a mental health goal like meditating a few times a week. Some want to read more books this year than last year. Your chosen area of growth should be something that you are committed to and are motivated to start doing immediately.
We struggle with resolutions because we make them very rigid and unrealistic; but, if we set intentions, we can set benchmarks and track our progress more easily throughout the year. One motto that I use personally and encourage clients to adopt is, “progress, not perfection.” Working toward our intentions should involve utilizing that mindset as well. Progress is not linear, and we are more likely to be kind to ourselves when we consider the big picture. (No more giving up as soon as we make a mistake or shaming ourselves about breaking our resolution before the end of January.) We also can reflect on our progress toward our intentions, share it with loved ones, and remain accountable as we work toward our intentional goals.
Consider approaching the new year in a new way by setting intentions instead of making resolutions. You’ll be more likely to follow your intentions than to keep a resolution because you will be purposeful in setting them, track your progress more easily, and keep going even if you have a setback. Let’s make this the year that we commit to caring for and improving ourselves instead of trying to reach unrealistic resolutions.
If you would like support in setting your intentions, reach out to schedule an individual consultation. I also work with clients who want to set more specific personal or professional goals, and I work with families who seek to improve family relationships and behaviors to enhance communication, connection, and comprehension. I offer online and in-person sessions, and the initial consultation is free of charge to ensure we are a good fit for one another. Or, if you would like to get started on improving relaxation or self-care, consider scheduling a full-hour or half-hour Reiki healing session or a half-hour chakra reading. All B Connecting, LLC services are confidential and judgment free.
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