Most mornings, when writing in my journal, I finish with a list of my intentions for the day. Some folks blow off intentions by saying, “Oh, I’ll do that later” leaving themselves a loophole to get out of the thing they tell themselves they want. Such internal mind chatter includes the words: aim, intent, goal, plan, resolve, wish, desire, dream, aspiration, and hope. If you examine these words, they are future oriented.

What if you paid attention to your intentions and put them in the present moment?
Would you be more focused on today versus tomorrow?
Would you be as apt to procrastinate?
Would you be happier and more at peace with yourself at the end of the day?

I think we all, at times, put off until tomorrow what we can do today. And, by giving ourselves permission to be a slacker, we stop ourselves from living up to our true potential. In some ways, it’s easier to live in our darknesses and fears, than to live in our light and joy.

This leads to the question, what are you avoiding? This could be as little as doing laundry, or washing your last meal’s dishes, or exercising, to making phone calls, or attending webinars, or writing proposals. Whatever the IT is, I bet you’re avoiding something!

The template I use each morning to pay attention to my intentions is as follows. Hopefully you’ll find it valuable.

#1 In three sentences, write down your Vision for the remainder of this year. Read this over every morning.

Example:

By the time this year finishes I will have sold 1000 copies of my memoir, Soaring into Greatness. My book’s publication will not only blow its readers out of the water, it will inspire phone calls for well-paying speaking engagements to come my way daily! I am creating my own destiny and am blessed with the perfect abundance of God’s good in my life!

#2 Openly share about your day, including the old excuses/stories that you saw emerging in you as your day unfolded. Be specific.

#3 What did you learn (positive or negative) or experience from these stories?

#4 What is the story and things you wish to commit to for today? i.e.

• Wash your hair
• Exercise
• Make phone calls
• Do one thing on your follow up list
• Take a walk, etc.

It’s fine to renegotiate your intentions if you are mindful and aware that you truly need to do this. As a former spiritual coach used to say to me, “You have to be willing to be guided like a star and yet, flow like the wind.” On the other hand, if you make a habit of constantly not doing what you say you are going to do, then, you need to stop and look inside, and see what is really going on.

I challenge you to pay attention to your intentions, set them, and focus on them throughout your day. In this way, you’ll change the way you see, and change the way you live.