So many of us have the best intentions for a New Year. It is a cultural norm for a large number of people to create some sort of a resolution. Sadly, many of our intentions or resolutions are never actualized. 

This past weekend, at a holiday gathering, I chatted with friends as they ate indulgent food and talked about the diet they were starting January 1st.  They complained about the weight they’ve gained as they put another cookie in their mouth. 

I too have done this. 

I see the need for a change, I want the change, I voice the change, and then I keep doing the same old things.  Then the intention, that was supposed to be helpful and inspiring, becomes a way for me to feel bad about myself because I’ve failed.  Not a good cycle to be part of; yet we all fall into this trap.

So, how can we turn this New Year’s Intention idea into something that sticks? 

Something that empowers us and actually takes flight? 

Here are three things that have helped me turn an intention into empowering action:

#1 First, be sure that the intention is true.
An intention that is heart-centered, and not from the ego, has a better chance of taking flight with action.  Think of it as a seed.  It will take time to grow and will need to be nurtured. 

When you understand why you are creating that intention and what has blocked you from actualizing it up to this point, then you are starting from a place that has possibility.  If an effort is made to release or shift the blockages, then you are starting with promise.

#2 Create one SUPER SIMPLE and doable action that you can do every day to help you remember your intention and honor it. It is about being practical and consistent. Choose a feasible time of day to do the action and set an alarm to go off at that time.  For instance, if your intention is to be more mindful, set an alarm to get up 10 minutes earlier; go sit, relax and breathe with awareness. 

You are welcome to do more than one action a day, but they will simply be a bonus.  If you forget one day, just begin again. 

This is about you creating self-love, not self-shame. 

Each time you do the action, imagine the seed growing.   

#3 Lastly, find a way to be accountable. You can have a friend that you text after you’ve done the action, post about it, or join a group (online or in person) doing a similar thing to generate community support. 

The more you can connect with people that are doing what you wish to be doing or living in the way you aspire, the more you will fuel your flame that turns inspiration into action. 

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”  – Aristotle

If you would like help releasing last year and creating an intention for 2023, here is a loving ritual you can use.