It’s a new year, and like many, you may have taken a moment to set some goals. Or perhaps you haven’t, and that’s okay too. Whether you’re focused on short-term outcomes (goals) or the inputs (habits and systems) that will get you there, one thing remains true: they must connect to the long-term vision of the life you want to see come to fruition.
But there’s an element that often gets overlooked in the goal-setting process: setting intentions. And not just any intentions. I’m talking about powerful ones.
Intentions that move you deeply, that keep you grounded and committed even on the days when motivation feels far away.
So now you may be asking what makes an intention powerful?
A powerful intention isn’t about surface-level desires or quick fixes. It’s about setting a guiding principle rooted in what truly matters to you—something intrinsic, rather than external.
Goals might point to what you want to achieve, but intentions speak to how you want to live, who you want to become, and the energy you want to carry into your work and relationships.
For example:
Goal: Save $10,000 this year.
Input (Habit/System): Automatically save a portion of every paycheck.
Powerful Intention: Build financial discipline and peace so I can create opportunities for freedom and joy.
The goal is measurable, the input ensures consistent action, and the intention is the heartbeat behind it.
How to Set Powerful Intentions
Reflect on Your 'Why': Why does this matter to you? What is the deeper desire beneath your goals? Dig beyond external validation to uncover the core reason that resonates with you.
Make It Emotionally Charged: Choose language and imagery that stir emotion. When your intention makes you feel something, it’s more likely to stay with you. Instead of “be healthy,” try “nourish and strengthen my body so I can feel vibrant and pain-free.”
Align with Your Values: Your intentions should align with your core values and long-term vision. When intentions are tied to what you believe in, they feel natural and motivating.
Keep It Simple and Actionable: A powerful intention doesn’t need to be overly complex. A few meaningful words can remind you of the bigger picture.
Revisit Regularly: Intentions aren’t set-and-forget. Build rituals around reflecting on your intention daily, weekly, or monthly to stay connected to it.
The "Magic" of Intentions
If you know me, I like to stay out of the hocus-pocus jargon that indicates, in anyway, that real-world results are magical. But I also work to make it clear that there are invisible (internal) shifts that make huge external impacts. And that can sometimes seem magical.
Intentions have a unique power because they aren’t tied to the highs and lows of achievement. They hold steady, reminding you of the journey you’re on. When motivation dips, your intention whispers, "This is why you're doing this." It connects you to something bigger than a checklist—it connects you to your purpose.
As you move through this year, remember to dream big, build systems, and set goals. But don’t forget to ground it all in powerful intentions. The ones that will move you even on the hard days. The ones that are uniquely yours. And the ones that remind you that every small step is part of a greater, meaningful design.