Issue 101: Goals vs Intentions
THE LEAP
BY QUANTUM ORANGE
GROW, EXPAND & EVOLVE
ISSUE 101 | GOALS VS INTENTIONS
Each week The (Quantum) Leap summarises a key aspect of success into what you need to Think, Feel and Do to create a personal shift.
When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change. The way you perceive things is an extremely powerful tool that will allow you to fully bring the power of intention into your life.
~ Wayne Dyer
THINK
It’s tempting to think of goals and intentions as similar enough that we can use them interchangeably - but they’re fundamentally different. Understanding this difference is crucial to applying both in the pursuit of success.
When we set an intention it’s a result of our thinking - we focus on an outcome we want and the focus is driven by our beliefs, values and motivations. It is a guiding principle for who we want to be in all areas of our life.
Unlike intentions, goals are more focused on the ‘what’ and ‘how’ of our actions. They’re more concrete and provide a clear framework for measuring progress and success. Intentions are less specific and measurable than goals. They’re more about the ‘why’, the overall direction we want to take.
For example, if you set an intention to live a healthier lifestyle, you’ll need to set specific goals to execute that vision. To achieve the goal of losing 10kg in the next six months, you might design smaller goals around regular exercise and a healthy diet.
Combining intentions and goals in this way is a powerful method for achieving what we want. Without the intention it’s possible to lose motivation, and without the clear goals there could be a lack of action or direction.
FEEL
Setting goals and motivating ourselves to do the work required to attain them can be a really positive experience. When we tap into our emotions they significantly increase the chance of our success - a connection with how something will make us feel results in greater motivation, focus and resilience.
But sometimes when we reach a goal we can end up feeling unsatisfied, adrift or like we now lack purpose.
Have you ever achieved a goal, but been left feeling empty or unfulfilled?
Did you try to fill the void with more ambitious targets?
This emptiness is what Harvard psychologist Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar called ‘the arrival fallacy’ and results from the erroneous belief that achieving a particular goal will make us happy.
Setting an intention to be happy, no matter what, would be far more effective.
Intentions are concerned with the present moment of your life - they rely on how you feel right now.
Consider the following reflection questions:
- What do I feel is going well for me in my life?
- Where are the areas in my life I feel like I can make progress?
- Who am I becoming?
These questions will help you arrive at intentions that describe how you want to feel. Note the focus is internal – on your relationship with yourself.
DO
Intentions are the driving force behind our actions - when we act with a clear intention, our behaviour becomes more deliberate and effective.
An intention is a commitment to yourself. It’s something to be, rather than something to achieve.
Intention-setting involves focusing your thoughts on what you want to bring into your life. The first step is deciding that you want to accomplish something specific or, more importantly, to make a change.
Step 1: Think of a big goal you’d like to accomplish this year.
Step 2: Imagine you’ve just achieved this goal - you’ve knocked it out of the park and crossed the finish line. How do you feel?
Step 3: Redirect that feeling into a deliberate intention you can move forward with. Write it down: My intention is to be / feel ______.
Turn this intention into an affirmation and test it out as your mantra for the remainder of the month. I am [insert your intention]. This extra step will give you a sense of whether it is a ‘good fit’ for you at the moment.
Intention setting is a great way to gently course correct at the beginning of each month. To continue on a journey of personal growth we need to take time to reflect on the parts our lives that could be improved. Using the results of that reflection to set mindful intentions works toward that better future.
If you were to set an intention for yourself right now, what would it be?
Craft a daily routine that aligns with your intentions and keeps you on track toward your goals. Remember, it is consistent action and self-discipline that creates results.
Read. Watch. Listen.
READ
Self-Awareness & Setting Intentions - Diana Raab PhD.
WATCH
The Power Of Intentions - Fearless Soul.
LISTEN
We've created a brand new Setting Intentions Meditation. Listen to this first. And then download the meditation here.
