The Power of Setting Intentions
June 2022 to June 2025...just what have I brought to life?
Depending on which hemisphere you’re in, you’ve either recently experienced Winter or Summer Solstice.
For me, it was Winter…and I’m happy the days are going be a little longer now.
At each solstice for the past few years, I’ve found myself drawn to reflecting and setting intentions.
And intention setting has been a really powerful tool for me and can be for you too.
Let me tell you why.
Back in June 2022, I was at a meditation retreat in Greece. I was there during the Summer solstice.
A few months earlier, I’d made the decision to move back to Australia.
I’d resigned from my job (I still had a month left to work).
And I was really thinking about “what’s next?”
More specifically, what did I want things to look like.
No timelines, just the dream (which I’d been thinking about for a long time anyway).
I decided that the Summer Solstice was the perfect time to not only reflect but also set intentions for the future.
So what did I do?
I grabbed a beautiful notebook.
And I wrote down things I was grateful for while living in London.
Then I spent some time setting intentions.
I started every sentence with:
I will…
Because it wasn’t about I’ll try, I’ll focus on, I might and so on.
It was about being powerful…intentional if you will.
And importantly, no timeline.
They aren’t goals (I have those as well).
I knew somethings might happen quickly, others could take longer (if ever).
But they were all things I wanted to happen.
And a week ago, on Winter Solstice, I grabbed the notebook to revisit them.
3 years after I’d written them.
A little check-in to see what I have made happen, and what’s still to come.
And the postcard below dropped out of the notebook.
I immediately was taken back to Greece, sitting on the balcony, staring at the view and thinking about the future.
So how have those intentions played out three years later?
Pretty much all of the list has happened - either I’ve done it or I’m actively working on it.
Some of the highlights:
I’ve met so many amazing people
I have a great (part-time) job
I’m building a business that’s in service to others
I lived with the most amazing water view for 18 months
I’ve travelled to Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Cologne, Singapore and back to London
With the exception of London, they were all places I’d never been
The one that’s still outstanding?
Meeting Chad Smith from the Red Hot Chili Peppers - so if anyone can help with that, let me know!
Those intentions have acted like a guide for me.
A little like a roadmap and a little like an anchor.
Reminding me of the vision and what’s really important.
And I’ve been surprised by just how many times I’ve thought about them when making big decisions…
Where I’ve chosen to live
Where I’m working
Planning travel
They’ve really guided and influenced a lot.
I even thought about hanging around after an Iggy Pop and the Losers show in LA to meet try and meet Chad Smith.
I decided against it pretty quickly though, it just wasn’t my style.
So if you’re thinking about your future, spend some time setting your intentions.
Grab your notebook.
And start with “I will…”
It’s really powerful.
Especially revisiting them.
And then setting brand new intentions to keep you moving forward.
Instead of being seaside in Greece, I went and sat by the lake for Winter Solstice and wrote some new intentions.
And they were bold.
I can’t wait to reflect in three years time and to see what I’ve made happen.
Do you set intentions?
What’s on your list?
When was the last time you revisited them to see how far you’ve come?
If you feel like putting them out into the universe a bit more, feel free to share them. I’d love to see them.