Resolutions | Awakening to the Dance

“A good intention clothes itself with sudden power.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Do you make New Year’s resolutions or set intentions for the following year? Is there a difference in them and how does that affect your life? Do you usually follow through with what you set or intend?

Resolutions or Intentions

I used to make New Year’s resolutions and I saw them as goals for the year. Often I worked very hard to achieve them, but encountered many blocks along the way that delayed the achievement or made it impossible. Then, when I was unable to meet the goal, I felt bad about myself.

A few years ago, I gave up making resolutions and started setting intentions. For example, my intention was to publish my book by the end of 2011, but that didn’t happen. Because I’d never published a book before, it took much longer to edit and prepare it than I anticipated. I could have published it and met my goal, but the book wouldn’t have been as professional as I wanted it to be, and part of my intention was to make it as professional as possible.

Do You focus On An Aim Or Course Of Action?

The definitions of resolution and intention are interesting. Resolution means a course of action decided upon or firm determination. Intention means an aim that guides action or a course of action one intends to follow. The difference is subtle. A course of action sounds like a plan. We know what we want to achieve and how to achieve it, but an aim that guides our action indicates an underlying reason for whatever we are going to do.

While it is true that intentions alone don’t lead us to accomplish what we wish, they are an important guide when combined with action. My experience has been that the steps I need to take to a goal may change as I travel the path, so if I’m stuck on doing it a certain way, I may overlook a much better choice. What keeps me on the path, though, is the intention.

Our Word Has Spiritual Power

Ernest Holmes, the author of Science of Mind and the founder of that philosophy, says, “Just what is meant by ‘your word?’ It means your conscious intention, your conscious direction, your conscious faith and acceptance that, because of what you’re doing, the Power of Spirit will flow through your word in the direction you give.” So in creating an intention, we are setting “our word” in motion in the universal flow of energy. Once we put it out there, it can draw to us what we need to accomplish our goal.

Intention (Photo credit: turahbird)

Combine Intention and Action For Results

This doesn’t mean we don’t take action. It means we start taking the steps we know to take and stay open to what shows up. We stay focused on the intention. For example, my intention in writing a blog post every week is to share what I know so that it may help others. So that people know when to expect the post, I write it every Wednesday, but writing it on another day doesn’t affect the intention. So there may be variations in the path to fulfill one intention.

One of the most typical New Year’s resolutions is to get in shape; yet, most people stop exercising in two months and gym memberships plummet by March. I suspect many people set goals in this area expecting unrealistic progress. Maybe focusing on an intention would work better.

After I stopped dancing, I walked regularly to stay healthy, but I was living in New Orleans where it rained often and I couldn’t walk outside. Sometimes it was too hot. Finally, I got sick of my own excuses about why I wasn’t walking, and I bought a treadmill so I would never have an excuse not to exercise. This worked. I also realized I need variety and get bored doing the same thing every day. Some days I hike or walk outside. Some days I walk on the treadmill and read while I exercise. Some days I just walk rapidly in the house. I have also taken yoga and tai chi and dance classes. So my intention is to stay healthy and that requires that I get some kind of exercise at least 5 days a week. Being open about it helps me to do it regularly.

Keep Good Energy Flowing

So if you’ve made resolutions or intentions, I wish you well with them. Be devoted to what aim guides your action: better health, relating in a more loving way with others, developing new job skills. Keep moving forward, but stay open to new possibilities, and know that staying positive about even the setbacks will keep the good energy flowing to assist you.

Happy New Year! What are your intentions or resolutions for the year? Please comment.

Related Articles: I highly recommend that you set aside time to view this video: Wayne Dyer – The Power of Intention (video), Like Clouds Without Rain, Life Has A Crush on You, Spiritual Reading, Ernest Holmes (audio)