Set Intentions Instead of Resolutions for New Year

Instead of setting resolutions for 2020, I’ve decided to set intentions. Although a dictionary shows the words are similar, I find many people infer a nuance between the two words.

From discussions with people I’ve met, a resolution implies a decision formally stated is concrete, whereas they infer an intention is more of a general direction. For example, a decision to take the highway to a restaurant on the other side of town in spite of the traffic on the freeway is a resolution; however, an intention to visit the same restaurant allows options to consult Waze and take side streets through town to arrive in a shorter amount of time with less stress.

When I begin working with a new client on a problem, they often will already have an idea of how to solve it in a very specific way, which my coworkers and I refer to as the how, whereas I will ask why they want to solve the problem. Before I ask the question, a client might never have even considered why they want to solve their problem. Once a client articulates her why it opens a plethora of possibilities. Maybe we’ll determine her how is the best way to resolve the problem, or, perhaps, we’ll think of another way that may solve the problem in a simpler, less expensive, and quicker way.

Setting resolutions establishes a how with a limited scope. Offering intentions allows more options for success and fewer options for failure, which also scales.

One could make a resolution to become a vegan on January 1 because one believes a vegan diet is healthiest; however, the scope demands one must live a vegan lifestyle on the first day of the new year. The intention to become a vegan in 2020 allows one to scale because one could begin no longer eating red meat on January 1st, remove chicken from one’s diet on April 1st, give up fish on July 1st, and no longer eat dairy or eggs by October 1st.

The power of intention is that it allows more flexibility than a resolution. I often find I have neither the experience or knowledge to make the best decision about a change in my life when I start. If I give myself the flexibility to alter my course, as needed. Sometimes, I might discover that means letting go of my original intention when I realize following it has led me to a more suitable intention. In the example of becoming a vegan, maybe I discover that I want to include more vegetables in my diet and give up all animal products but dairy and eggs.

For me, my time has become a valuable commodity. I have volunteered a lot in the past, and I’ve realized it has taken time away from goals I’ve set for my health, home, relationships, and writing, so I’m setting the intention to say no to activities that take time away from these areas of my life.

What intentions have you set for 2020? Please add them to the comments below.