Why is it important to create an intention daily?
Starting your day with a mindful goal is the best way to set yourself up for success. Setting an intention is more than passively thinking about a task to complete; it’s about positively reminding yourself of what you want. Your intention can act as a guide throughout the day, keeping you on track. I use my intention to help create how I want to feel throughout the day. It can be your beacon of positivity on days that rain negativity. Setting an intention helps gives you control of your day from the beginning through making a conscious goal.
So you might think setting an intention is some hippy-dippy stuff. However, we all know when we focus on something, it magnifies it. Instead of feeling like you’ll handle whatever comes up, proactively create the kind of day you want to show up.
Creating your daily intention.
Setting your intention daily, of course, should be done first thing in the morning while the mind is fresh. I typically meditate first, but you can sit quietly and take a few breaths if meditation is not your thing.
Before focusing on creating an intention, run through your first thoughts of gratitude for the day, thinking about and feeling all the things you are thankful for. This feeling of gratitude creates positive, happy, and hopeful emotions. Feeling good is what helps guide us to our intention or goal for the day.
Next, ask yourself, How do I want to feel today? How do I want the day to go? What positive quality will serve me best today? Think about or write down a couple of words that come to mind. Your intention will serve as your declaration of how you’ll show to the world today.
I am...fill in the blank.
Today I will be...fill in the blank.
I am confident.
I am grateful.
Today I will choose to be patient.
Today I will be kind.
Working with your intention.
The key to your intention success is by remembering it throughout the day. As we move into the day, we become busy and distracted. Creating a daily ritual for setting your intention is just as important as reconnecting to it frequently. Your intention is not a magic pill that will make every day blissful, but as you notice yourself getting annoyed or irritated, you have already set the tone of how you want to be, and you can shift back to this feeling.
Create times throughout the day that you mindfully shift back to your intention. Maybe you set an alarm on your phone to remind you, or every day before lunch, you get in the habit of remembering your intention.
Everyday.
Remember, your intentions are not daily tasks for you to cross off your to-do list. Your intention becomes a positive focus that you proactively set for the day. Choosing your purpose for the day doesn’t mean you won’t encounter challenges. You will still have good and bad days, but without a focus for your day, it’s a lot easier to get distracted and spiral away from how you want your day to go. Starting with a positive intention will help you make more conscious actions and reactions as you move through your day. The more time you invest, the more your intention will cross your mind.