Happy happy New Year to you all! My personal new year begins in spring, when the earth itself comes back to life. Thawing, sprouting, blooming…longer days allowing more light to shine on seeds that were sown, intentions that were set, and quiet work that was done over a restful winter. What I’m here to say is, if you’re feeling overwhelmed and pressured to set big goals and change everything about yourself + your life right now (aka, using self-hatred and shame as motivation)…don’t. It’s only January, time is subjective, most of nature is still hibernating, and there’s nothing inherently ‘wrong’ with you. We’re human beings, not self-improvement projects.
I dislike new year resolutions (more on that later), but I love this time of year. It feels like turning the page, a new story, a clean slate, a fresh start. As a means to ride that wave, and avoid the shame spiral resolutions sent me down most of my life, I came up with an alternative practice to mindfully think about the year ahead. Over the years, it’s been a fun, honest, realistic, and loving way of setting goals, that also grants me the ability to stay true to myself through the unpredictable changes the future has in store. The ability to evolve graciously and authentically during the days to come—to embrace uncertainty with faith instead of fear, to try and try again.
A resolution is defined as ‘a firm decision to do or not to do something,’ which is actually a great thing…when declared under present moment circumstances. Our egos love resolutions, because they thrive on control and external validation. They’re wired to adapt to past and future expectations, beliefs, and motives. Ego is the reason resolutions often don’t work—if our reality doesn’t perfectly fit that mold, our ego labels it an utter failure, so we give up and go back to familiar old patterns. Alternatively, when a resolution no longer aligns/is achievable, our ego can shame us into forcing what isn’t working, as a means to control what others think of us. For example, if your new years resolution was to run every day, and two months later find yourself with crippling hip and knee pain…you give up entirely, or push past it and continue tormenting your body for the sake of validation.
Intention is what we use to make resolutions in the first place…but it’s softer, loving, more nuanced.
An intention is defined as ‘an intended aim,’ which is essentially a more fluid definition of a resolution. Our bodies and intuitions thrive on pure intention because they’re wired (via neural pathways) to adapt to the present, to the truth of our feelings and the situation at hand. But our body can’t fuel both our ego and intuition at the same time, it’s one or the other. When we set an intention, it allows us to repeatedly show up as we are, and move forward with compassion and love. Intentionality itself is more than conscious decision making, it’s the congruence/alignment of all aspects of yourself. Intention is what we subconsciously use to make resolutions in the first place, but it’s softer, loving, more nuanced.
Hiding behind the resolution to ‘run every single day’, is the intention ‘to enjoy moving my body every single day’. So in the instance of running pain, your intuition listens to your body, and defaults back to your intention. Intention guides you toward aligned alternatives (swimming, pilates, yoga, dance, walks), where ego would’ve gone back to an entirely sedentary existence or ignore the pain to the point of burnout/injury. You do you, but I prefer the latter…and take things a step further. I narrow down all of my intentions to a single word. One word that encapsulates the core of all my aspirations to use as a guiding light through an unpredictable future, a compass through new days and unfamiliar territory ahead.
I had big goals and plans for 2023, along with loads of uncertainty, so I labeled it The Year of Trust. Thank goodness for that because life had MUCH different plans than my own, dealing blow after blow to my spirit. I revisited my intention time and time again as it ushered me through circumstances I never imagined, and lovingly guided me toward a tough but necessary truth. I had set my intention thinking I needed to trust in the unknown, the process, other people, etc—but what I actually craved/needed was to trust myself, as well as a power much higher than my own. The Year of Trust was preceded by the years of Curiosity, Acceptance, and Truth. Together, they armored me in a suit of lessons learned and a shield of faith, on my journey to 2024…The Year of Treasure.
I came to the word ‘treasure’ after seeing myself in a little girl on the beach. She wore one shoe on her foot, and held the other in her hands, full of rocks. She was teary eyed as her mother pleaded with her to put the shoe back on since they had to walk down the street for dinner. “Honey, these are just rocks, and we can’t bring them in the restaurant. We can leave them right here and collect seashells after dinner.” Then with a quivering lower lip and a broken heart, “but *sniff* they’re all my *sniff* little treasuuuuuurrrreeesss!”
Oh girl, I get it.
All that eye for beauty where no one else notices it.
All that heart for the things unseen.
All that sensitivity.
It’s a lot to hold, and it never goes away.
That day, however, I found peace in the message implied behind her mothers’ words; treasure is everywhere, baby. and it always will be.
Treasure (n): a quantity of valuable objects, or a highly valuable object.
Treasure (v): to keep carefully, to value highly.
My goal at large this year is to do less and be more, to be wholeheartedly present and honest with myself as I renew my mind. Using my intention as both a noun and a verb as I fix my eyes on life’s countless little treasures—people, moments, nature, time, art, books, community, running water, privilege, and on and on and on. Discovering new ones through the highs and lows, treasuring it all in my heart.
My treasure chest.
Here’s to 2024!
What’s your word/intention for the year?
I love this year's word.
My word is unwind.
Taking your lessons to heart with journaling, letting go and just be.