In the mid-1100s, French Abbot Bernard of Clairvaux first coined the phrase we now know as “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” This quote is about the difference between what someone intends to do and what they actually do.
Frequently, we tell ourselves we need to change something in our life. Whether it is our career, health, fitness, family connection, or something else; we have these internal conversations but rarely act upon them. You’re not alone in your struggle.
Think how many people set New Year’s resolutions. It has almost become cliché, with most of these intentions never being attempted or getting anywhere from the first day.
An intention is a guiding principle for who you want to be and how you want to act, live, and show up in this world. Your intention serves as an internal compass and can give you clarity and guidance.
An intention, in yoga philosophy, is referred to as a Sankalpa.This term comes from the Sanskrit roots san, meaning “a connection with the highest truth,” and Kalpa, meaning “vow.” An intention, or Sankalpa is a solemn vow and commitment we make with ourselves to support our highest truth.
This is not to be confused with a goal. Intentions focus on creating lasting and sustained change. Goals focus on hustling after a fixed outcome. An intention gives you a purpose to focus on where goal-setting is determining something you want in the future and to create an action plan to achieve it. Goals can be limiting. Intentions can be much more expansive.
Think of a goal as a predetermined result, arbitrarily chosen to achieve a temporary feeling in a moment in time. An example may be saving a certain amount of money, landing a new job, moving to a new city, or taking a trip. We have been conditioned to think of goal setting when we want to make a change in life, and happiness will follow.
On the other hand, an intention is concerned with the present moment of your life. It relies on how you feel right now. Setting an intention is driven by looking inward as asking a question like “what do I want my purpose to be this year?”
Goals are rooted in tomorrow, a destination and “what’s next.” Intentions are about today, a direction, focused on now and who you are becoming.
If there’s an aspect in your life that you’ve been neglecting for some time, but deep down you know addressing it will propel you forward, then setting an intention of doing so would be a step in the right direction. Begin by selecting a word for the intention that will carry you through the year. Throughout the year, when faced with tough decisions or you are questioning yourself, stop and ask if what you are doing is aligned with your intention. And when the year ends, it’s your alignment with your intention, rather than the outcome of your goals, that will fill you with happiness and fulfillment.
You may come to realize that we don’t care about the short-term outcome achieved from goal setting as much as the way we feel from the long term change we receive finding out who we want to be, how we want to act, live, and show up in this world.
“Do it because it’s in your heart. Not because you want something in return.” – Socrates
Robin Anne Griffiths – Owner of ReChargeMe Zone * Behavioral Change Specialist * Yoga Instructor * Meditation Facilitator * Personal Trainer * Author * Speaker * Helping people on a journey for change to live a fuller and healthier life. Find out more about her work at www.rechargemezone.com.
