Tuesday, January 22, 2013

New Year's Intentions

Happy New Year!

Yes, I know, maybe a little late for resolutions . . . or NOT! One blogger I know talked about “Non-Resolutions” such as:

I WILL NOT TRY TO GET UP EARLY I've spent most of my life being wrenched out of bed. First by my parents, both of whom are "morning people". Then by early-morning science labs at university that cruelly started at 7am. Then by joining a sport renowned for 6am starts (rowing), then by the world of office work. So I'm having a lie-in this year. True fact: no one ever got to the end of their life and said, "I wish I'd had less sleep." Night night B. Magnanti*

I WILL NOT TRY TO SLOW DOWN I’m going to work at whatever pace I want to. I’m not going to resolve to slow down. I might slow down – I might speed up – but I’m not resolving either way. E. Sinclair*

The whole idea here is to not focus on things that you say you are going to do that you know, deep inside of yourself, that you will NEVER do! It’s a fun way to be a rebel AND be authentically You!

Another mentor of mine, Anisa Aven, recommends that we do New Year’s Intentions! What a great idea! I’ve been setting Morning Intentions for a few months now, based on the work I’m doing with my own personal coach.

As you may know from following Abraham-Hicks or other New Thought Leaders, setting an intention is a great way to focus on who you want to “be” in any given moment.

Setting intention, at least according to Buddhist teachings, is quite different than goal making. It is not oriented toward a future outcome. Instead, it is a path or practice that is focused on how you are "being" in the present moment. Your attention is on the ever-present "now" in the constantly changing flow of life. You set your intentions based on understanding what matters most to you and make a commitment to align your worldly actions with your inner values.**

To me, intentions are based on “being” and goals are based on “doing.” For example, here are three of my intentions for this year:

-Focus on joy, playfulness and being more open to receiving goodness into my life.

-Being a light that shines for others to see where they want to grow.

-Being open to opportunities to collaborate with other lightworkers to help the planet.

According to the Chinese horoscope, 2013 will be the Year of the Snake. I took a look at several books and sites that featured animal totems and learned that snakes represent transformation and healing. Just think about the medical sign that shows two snakes intertwined. Here’s more information:

Snake energy is the energy of wholeness, cosmic consciousness, and the ability to experience anything willingly and without resistance. It is the knowledge that all things are equal in creation. It also signals a transition in your life. New opportunities and/or changes.***

When you consider what we’ve just come through with the December 21, 2012 energy, snake medicine is just what we need!

I wonder what intentions you will create for 2013? What else is possible?

*Both of these examples from this blog: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/9772803/Telegraph-Wonder-Womens-non-resolutions-for-2013.html

** http://www.yogajournal.com/wisdom/926

*** http://www.linsdomain.com/totems/pages/snake.htm