Now that we understand the differences, let’s explore the benefits of focusing first on setting intentions powered by goals rather than goals powered by intentions.
1. Intentions release you from desiring a specific outcome.
Living an intention-based day instead of goal-reaching day allows you to be fully present in the moment. Upon examination, I realized that focusing on reaching specific goals meant that I had to rely largely on factors completely beyond my control. I was allowing external elements (mainly other people’s actions and reactions) to define my success and provide internal satisfaction.
In other words, I was giving control of my daily journey/experience to people who, for the most part, had no clue or vested interest in my success or failure! Once I removed my goal-based mindset and shifted my focus to living an intention-based life, I regained control of my internal emotions and the ability to define success.
For example, although I can’t control the speed at which my five-year olds put on his shoes (trust me I TRIED), I can control my reaction and response to the morning routine. And I have to say, it feels so much better to live in the intention of experiencing zest in everyday moments (including taking time to go on a treasure hunt for the lost shoe instead of yelling about the time we are wasting) rather than achieve a goal of on-time arrival to school every single day.
2. Intentions allow you to refine your natural talents and strengths.
As someone who has a very strong Futuristic bent, I am often times guilty in spending an inordinate amount of time envisioning, day-dreaming or brainstorming around future events. Although this is helpful when preparing for an upcoming move or beginning a new business venture, if I let it run wild it can cause me to miss the joy in everyday life because I am too busy thinking about the joy I will (or hope to) experience in the future.
Instead of constantly focusing on achieving arbitrary goals, we should be setting overall intentions that align, and refine, our areas of natural talent.
For example, last year I set a goal of rowing 1,000,000 meters in 2016. I started the year of full of fire and ready to tackle the world. I enjoyed the consistency of the training program I put together to help me reach this seemingly impossible distance. As with most things in my life, I just couldn’t wait to reach the “finish line” I set for myself. I began upping my distances and rowing days so I could reach my goal sooner and sooner.
Before I knew it, I found myself reaching the finish line on June 20, 2016- a full 194 days early! One may think I felt immense joy and satisfaction by not only finishing my goal, but accomplishing it so quickly. But the truth was I felt empty and even a bit lost. What was I going to do to maintain my fitness for the remainder of the year now that my big, hairy audacious goal was a thing of the past?
Lacking the time and creativity to come up with another fitness goal, I simply hopped back on the rower the next day and set out to row another 1,000,000 before the end of the year. My goal had been reached but the achievement felt hollow because there was no greater intention behind it.
