“Intention is not wishful thinking, it is wilful direction.” - Unknown

New Years Resolutions - recipe for success or disaster?

The new years is upon us and no doubt there have already been thoughts or conversations of 'what do I want to achieve this year?' If this sounds like you, rest assured you're not alone. Probably half the planet has had the same thought.

But how do we actually make those New Years resolutions stick? And better yet, how do we do it in a way that's sustainable for whatever goal you have?

All too often I hear those New Year intentions for improved health and wellbeing, weight loss, increased fitness, more money, wealth or just overall abundance and often the desire to meet their forever person, find love or perhaps to improve a current relationship.

So, it's January and we mean business right? Well this article describes how you can make the most out of your New Years Resolutions with improved intention setting, clarity of purpose and a clear vision of your desired outcome.

With that said, here are 4 steps how to implement and make the most of your New Years resolutions and goals! 👊

1. Write out your goals

Dreams are just that unless we put a plan in place to get clear on the steps needed to achieve them. Once you do that, they then become your goals. If losing weight is your goal, get clear on how much you want to lose or if the measure for you is a fitness level, be clear on what that looks like for you. If finding love this year is your focus, be clear on the characteristics you desire in a person and how you expect to be treated. Or if money/wealth growth is your jam, set out what that looks like for you. Once you have gotten clear on the 'what', write down the 'when' you want to achieve that. A certain month, day or even a timeframe such as 6 months for example.

Then comes the 'how'. This is the most important part because it determines how you will achieve your 'what' goal in your 'when' timeframe. Improved health may look like eating better or switching to plant based nutrition, exercising each day doing something you enjoy, getting out more to meet new people if you want to meet your future partner, starting a side hustle to create wealth growth etc.

2. Make a vision board

The power of these are very underestimated. Year on year I have created a fresh vision board that I have in a frequently used room of my home and I can say with certainty, each year I have achieved what I have put on my vision board.

It doesn't have to be fancy, or you may like to express your creative side and make something really cool. Either way, put up pictures of things that represent all that you want to achieve this year.

I like to also add affirmations relating to my goals such as "Wellness is my natural state", "I enjoy optimal health and vibrant energy". I enjoy the creative side and will search on google for images that resonate with me for my goals and use those on my vision board so it holds good energy throughout the year as I work on what I want to achieve with my intentions.

3. Meditate

New Years resolutions and intentions wouldn't be successful without a good meditation routine for manifestation. I specifically use manifestation techniques in my meditations as I find this works on the same level as a vision board, but in your mind's eye.

Start by finding a quiet space you won't be disturbed in for 10 minutes or more. Close your eyes and take 3 calming deep breaths to bring stillness to your mind and body.

I like to use a 4-4-4 Angel sequence breathing technique for this next part as I find guidance from our guardian angels to be essential with manifestations and attracting abundance. Breath in from the belly (not chest) for 4 counts, hold the breath, breathe out for 4 counts.

When you breathe, imagine you are bringing energy up from your root chakra (base of the spine) and it is flowing through all the other chakras along the way creating ease and flow and as you breathe out you are expelling any negative energy, thoughts or emotions and see the goal you want to achieve in your mind's eye - as if it has already been achieved and is reality. This is how you practice manifestation meditation.

4. Journal

Journalling as certainly gained in popularity lately, and I don't think that's a bad thing. In such a tech-advanced world where nearly everything we do from messaging someone to even writing a shopping list is done on our phones, there is some kind of beautiful energy transfer when we write things down. Hence why journalling is encouraged so much.

You don't need a fancy journal, it can be on whatever spare notebook you have. Set aside time whether it be once a week on Sunday evenings to reflect on the week that's been and your intentions for the week ahead or perhaps doing it daily feels better for you after your meditation so you can jot down thoughts relating to your goals and how you are going with your intention actions.

I would always recommend starting a journal entry with listing 1-3 things you are grateful for that are different from the previous entry. Expressing gratitude increases things for which we are grateful for in life - it's based on the principle Like Attracts Like and the Law of Attraction. You could then jot down a few thoughts around your purpose and intention for your goals and vision or what steps you plan to take that week towards achieving them.

With these easy to implement steps in mind, your daily weekly and monthly actions for this year will surely see you achieving your goals and making your vision for 2023 come to fruition!

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