Have you heard of setting intentions? As we enter a new year, many of us are programmed to make resolutions — promises to ourselves to achieve specific goals or adopt new habits.
However, they rarely work. A Forbes poll survey found that the average resolution only lasted 3.74 months, and only 8 percent of those surveyed stuck with their goals for one month, while 22 percent lasted two months, and just 13 percent lasted four months.
As a company passionate about preserving family stories and building legacies, we’re offering you a different approach to New Year’s resolutions: setting intentions instead.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the difference between setting intentions and making resolutions, discuss the benefits of setting intentions, and provide practical tips for how your family can meaningfully focus on what’s important for the year ahead.
Resolutions vs. Intentions
Resolutions usually focus on outcomes, such as losing weight, saving money, or learning a new skill. While these goals can be valuable, they often lack a deeper connection to our values and emotions. Resolutions are what we think we need to do, so they become a drag and we don’t see them through. Think of intentions as what you value most in life. Focusing on them comes naturally to you.
Intentions are about the journey, the process, and how we want to live our lives. They are more flexible and rooted in mindfulness, allowing you to adapt and roll with changes. It’s more about a mindset rather than forcing yourself to reach specific goals.
Benefits of Setting Intentions
- Alignment with Values: Intentions are a reflection of our core values. By creating them, families can align their actions with what truly matters to them, fostering a sense of purpose and fulfillment.
- Strengthening Family Bonds: Intentions provide an opportunity for families to connect on a deeper level. When everyone is aware of and supportive of each other’s intentions, it creates a shared sense of purpose and encourages mutual support.
- Building a Lasting Legacy: Just as our company believes in preserving family stories, defining a shared purpose contributes to creating a family legacy. It allows each member to contribute to the narrative of the family’s journey and reinforces the idea that everyone plays a crucial role in shaping the story.
Tips for Setting Family Intentions
- Reflect on Shared Values: Gather as a family to discuss your shared values. What principles guide you? Use these values as a foundation for setting intentions that are meaningful to everyone.
- Embrace the Power of Storytelling: Storytelling can help you articulate your purpose. Share personal stories that embody your values, building an emotional connection between family members.
- Create a Family Vision Board: Encourage creativity by making a family vision board. Include images, quotes, and symbols that represent each family member’s values. Display the vision board in a prominent place as a daily reminder.
- Set Family and Individual Intentions: Establish values that the entire family can strive toward, but also encourage individual intentions. This allows for personal growth while maintaining a sense of unity within the family.
- Regular Check-Ins: Schedule regular family check-ins to discuss progress, challenges, and intention adjustments. This fosters open communication and ensures that everyone feels supported on their journey.
- Document Your Ideas: Just as we document family stories, document your intentions. Consider creating a shared journal where each family member can record their reflections, progress, and insights about their intentions.
Conclusion
As we start a new year, let’s forget about unattainable resolutions and instead write down meaningful intentions. By working together to define your values, you will strengthen your bonds and build a lasting legacy.
Need help recording and preserving your family stories? The Circa Legacy team is here to assist you. Send us a message with your ideas and we’ll help you get started.
