Anyone who knows me or has read my blog (not this one; the other one) knows I don’t make New Year’s Resolutions. I don’t believe in them. Research tells us the majority of people give up on them by the end of January anyway. There’s so much pressure to stick with a New Year’s Resolution. And, there’s so much shame waiting for us if we don’t. Having spent years moving beyond self-loathing and away from notions that I am nothing but a failure, I just can’t do that to myself. Neither should you.

However, what I can do is set intentions. And, I do. Every single morning. It’s how I prepare to jump into my day. It’s how I make sure I am living my days vs. simply getting through them. It’s how I stay focused and present in each moment.

Often confused with resolutions or to-do lists, intentions are far more potent than an inventory of tasks or goals. They allow us to create a sense of fulfillment that prevents us from spinning out. Intentions invite us to focus our minds and step into the energy of who we believe ourselves to be.

Setting intentions is the key to making long-lasting changes – whether your goals are health-related with respect to diet and exercise or whether you want to advance in your career or take it in a new direction – the practice of setting intentions can help you shift into and remain present in a mindset that supports your goals.

Ten percent of life is what happens to us and 90 percent is how we react to it. When we operate in the energy of who we believe we are, our actions as well as our reactions are far more likely to support our intentions.

When I said this to a coaching client recently she grumbled, “So I’ll just fake it ‘til I make it.” No. That’s not what this means. When we adopt a false persona, we jump out in front of ourselves and it’s impossible to align our intentions with what is already inside us but simply needs to be awakened.

Setting intentions is how we return to our true selves. It’s not about creating someone we’re not. It’s about acknowledging the power within; embracing what bring us joy, peace, and purpose; and harnessing what nourishes our mind, body, and spirit. Not just once, but repeatedly.

“The best way to take care of the future is to take care of the present moment.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh