Create Powerful Intentions For An Aligned Life

Whether it's the New Year, a new season, or a new phase of life for you, listen to this track if you'd like to get clear on how to move closer to a life that's more aligned with what's important to you. Grab a notebook and a pen in a quiet space and settle into this guided Embodied Intention Setting session, with meditation and journaling.

At the end of this session you should have two key embodied intentions - one personal and one professional. These intentions provide a frame and a foundation for your next season, whether that be the new year, a new quarter, or whatever season you’re entering. They’ll be your guiding light to bring you closer to your desires.

We’re going deep, but the outcome will be simple.

Music by Piotr Witowski from Pixabay.

Transcript

Welcome to your embodied intention setting session.

Before we begin I invite you to find a quiet space where you won't be disturbed and grab a notebook and a pen.

We'll be meditating and journaling.

If you like you might also wish to light a candle and pour yourself something nourishing.

This process is designed to support you to set intentions for your life that are aligned with what you deeply desire.

Often we set goals typically around New Year's but also at other times that feel good in the moment but fairly quickly lose their shine and by halfway through the year we've all but forgotten what they were.

In this embodied planning process we're going to walk through some key steps but they're yours to personalize.

If I say something you don't know how to answer interpret it in the way that feels right to you.

Embodiment is all about knowing yourself more deeply and this process invites you into an even deeper relationship with yourself.

By the end of this process you should have two key embodied intentions one personal and one professional.

These intentions provide a frame and a foundation for your next season whether that be the new year,

A new quarter or whatever season you're entering.

They'll be your guiding light to bring you closer to your desires.

We're going deep but the outcome will be simple.

You're encouraged to bring these intentions into your everyday life.

Put them on a post-it note in a place that you'll see it,

Create phone or computer wallpapers,

Set a daily reminder,

Whatever ways you'd like to regularly remind yourself of these intentions.

They're simple but they're potent.

Once you have your intentions you may wish to set specific goals and habits.

These can be created once your intentions have been crystallized.

One final note before we get started.

Throughout this process and beyond offer yourself compassion,

Empathy and as much love as you can.

It's okay to be where you're at,

It's okay to fall off track.

Come back to self-love and the rest will feel much easier.

So to begin I invite you to make yourself comfortable.

Help your body settle into the space by taking a look around the room and really bringing your attention to where you are.

Make sure that you've got your notebook and pen handy.

When you're ready gently close your eyes.

As you do bring your awareness to settle on your breath.

Just noticing your body as you breathe.

Noticing the qualities of your breath.

Not trying to change your breath,

Just noticing.

As you begin to bring your attention inward.

Now bring your attention to the base of your body as you rest into the support you're on.

Whether it's a chair or the floor or something else,

Notice where your body comes into contact with the structure beneath you.

And notice that as your body rests down the earth rises up to meet and support you.

Now notice anything that's wanting to be noticed right now within your body.

So often we have internal stories playing out without being consciously aware of them.

Sometimes these stories have messages for us,

Sometimes they just are what they are.

But just take a moment here to acknowledge whatever is loudest for you today.

Maybe it's a thought,

A feeling,

A sensation and acknowledge it.

If you like you might make a mental note to come back and explore this further when you have time.

And next I invite you to bring your awareness into your heart.

Just breathe into your heart space and be present with what's here today.

And as we move into the first question to ponder for your embodied intention setting,

I invite you to consider what is most important in my life.

Just allowing your mind to drift through those things in life that are most important to you.

Gently acknowledging that we may or may not be living in alignment with this right now.

We're curious,

What is most important in my life?

And just notice what comes up for you.

And getting even closer to this question,

Think about what you value most in life.

As part of doing this it might be helpful to think about how you want to feel about your life when you're older and you're looking back.

What do you want to have done?

How do you want to have lived?

Allow your mind and your body to drift through thoughts,

Feelings and sensations and notice anything that feels important.

And now I invite you to think about the person living in alignment with those values.

This isn't necessarily a visualization of your future self,

Though it may be if that feels like a good path for you to explore.

You're simply getting curious about the person who is living in alignment with what's important to you.

It may even be someone you already know who is embodying the qualities of the life that feels aligned with what's important to you.

What do you notice about their life?

And as you hold this idea in your mind I invite you to gently open your eyes in your own time and prepare to journal on some questions.

After each of the following questions I'll give you a few moments to write down whatever comes up for you.

Feel free to pause the audio between each question if you need more time.

Keeping in mind this person that lives according to what is important to you,

How do they spend their time?

Where do they live?

How do they make money?

What do they prioritize?

And you can interpret this question however feels right to you.

What do they prioritize?

What qualities do they have?

And finally what's the predominant atmosphere around them?

How do they feel about their life?

Now moving on I'm going to invite you to consider your own life as it is today.

It's important to be honest with yourself but also be compassionate.

This exercise is not about judging where you're at,

It's simply giving us a starting point.

So thinking about your own life now,

Asking the same questions.

How do you spend your time?

How do you make money?

What do you prioritize?

What qualities do you have?

Or maybe consider what qualities your loved ones would say you have.

And what's the predominant atmosphere around you?

How do you feel about your life?

Once you feel complete take a few minutes to read back over your answers to these first two sections.

As you do,

Just notice a few things.

You don't need to record any answers at this point,

Just notice.

And remember however you answer this,

Let it be.

It's just information,

We're not judging.

Offer yourself love.

This part is about staying in touch with our body as we move through the exercise.

We want to stay close to how we're feeling and what our body is letting us know.

So as you read back over your answers,

What happens in your body when you read the first list of answers?

And what happens in your body when you read your responses about your life?

Now again in your journal,

Write down a few ways in which your life is different to theirs.

Focus on what you can control,

Because that's where your power is.

I'll give you a few moments to journal on how your life is different from theirs.

When you're ready,

I'm inviting you again to close your eyes and call to mind this person we've been working with for the past few minutes.

Alternatively,

If it feels better,

You might imagine a symbol of this person that you can relate to.

We're going to ask them some questions,

Eyes still closed.

So just allow the answers to drift through your mind.

And the first question is,

What would you like me to know?

And now if you imagine that they were once where you are now,

Ask them this question.

What do I need to focus on?

Shift and change to move closer to where you are.

Give them some space to respond as we ask again,

What do I need to focus on?

Shift and change to move closer to where you are.

Now we're going to distill this information into two key areas which will become your intentions.

Ask the following questions and allow your wisdom to arise,

Either from yourself or from the person you're moving towards.

This person who's living in alignment with your values.

First ponder the questions,

Then gently open your eyes and write down what comes up.

In my personal life,

What is one overarching theme that will move me towards an aligned life?

What can I focus on?

In my professional life,

What is one overarching theme that will move me towards an aligned life?

What can I focus on?

Take your time distilling your answers as they percolate,

Finessing them until you can refine them into one or two sentences each.

And to ask the question again,

And there's one personal,

One professional.

In my personal or professional life,

What is one overarching theme that will move me towards an aligned life?

What can I focus on?

When they become clear,

Write them as statements beginning with I am,

Or I focus on,

Or another variation written in the present tense.

These statements,

One personal,

One professional,

Are your intentions,

Your guiding light for this next season of your life.

These statements are the ones I mentioned at the beginning of our session,

Which I encourage you to write and put in places you'll see regularly,

Such as post-it notes,

Phone or computer wallpapers,

Reminders on your phone,

Or any other way that you'll be regularly reminded of your intentions.

Now that you have your intentions,

There are a few ways you can bring them to life.

The first is to create a daily practice where you give yourself the opportunity to answer the question,

How can I align with my intentions today?

It might be as simple as when you're brushing your teeth,

You bring your intention to mind and ask this question.

This will result in everyday actions bringing you closer to your desires and an aligned life.

You may also wish to cultivate specific habits to help bring you,

You bring these intentions into your everyday life.

There are many resources to support you in creating and sustaining habits.

A quick search online will lead you to books,

Blogs,

Videos and more for ideas.

Another powerful tool is accountability.

Ask a friend,

Family member,

Coach or trusted mentor to support you in living out your intentions by checking in regularly and keeping you accountable to your action plan.

If you have additional time and desire here,

You may wish to create some aligned goals to support your intention.

For example,

What would you like to aim for within this season to align with your intentions?

A few principles when you're setting goals.

First break goals down into manageable steps,

Schedule them,

Celebrate them when you achieve them and importantly if you miss them,

Offer yourself compassion and recalibrate using your intention as your guiding light.

For now we're going to close this session and celebrate your creation of these intentions.

Take a moment to settle back into your seat and gently close your eyes when you're ready.

As you do,

Offer your body a thank you for the wisdom that arose,

A moment of gratitude.

Thank yourself for taking this time to intentionally move towards a more meaningful,

More fulfilling life.

I invite you now to offer yourself one final question in support of creating your best life.

What's my one next step to begin walking out my intentions?

As you ponder this question,

Gently open your eyes and know that you are stepping into your more beautiful,

Aligned life.