Over the past few years, the craze of affirmations has swept various self-love circles. Speaking love and light into life by repeating uplifting words to ourselves has become a practice all throughout social media and among some of our favorite celebrities. I've dabbled in affirmations myself for a few years and the payoff has been incredible.
Speaking positivity over myself every morning has done plenty for my confidence and self-esteem. It has consistently equipped me with the bravery and gall to tackle each day with poise, grace, and self-assurance. However, the principle of speaking, believing, and acting accordingly doesn't just apply to affirmations. It's also ever-present in another practice: intention-setting.
Intention-setting is a mindfulness technique that requires you to reflect on how you want to live and show up in life. Much like affirmations, setting intentions takes your mind off areas of lack and redirects your attention toward positivity, intentionality, and productivity.
Intention-setting is the art of declaring victory, achievement, and discipline over your life.
Intentions should not be forced. For them to be effective, they must be felt. They require awareness and reflection. Usually created from an area of struggle in your life, intentions are specific to your own personal journey and are used to sow positive seeds in your everyday life of doing. The focus of intentions are not about tangible outcomes (e.g. "I will make 5 friends", or "I will apply to 3 jobs"), but instead, are set based on how you want to navigate yourself in the world. They're usually created by answering questions about what means the most to you, how you want to feel, and the energy you want to emit each day.
Below are a few in-depth intentions that I uphold to ensure my work and life remains passion-filled, my days remain purposeful, and my processing of life's challenges is rooted in growth and blooming:
- Today, I will use my wholeness to share my joy and positivity with those around me. I will operate in love and compassion as I make decisions that affect others. I will be considerate, jovial, and grateful no matter what challenges come my way.
- Today, I will navigate myself from a place of fullness, not lack. I am equipped with everything I need, and I will use it all completely. I will use my gifts to manifest greatness and will welcome opportunities that do the same.
- This week, I will set boundaries that agree with my emotional and spiritual capacity. I will not overexert energy into people or things that cannot replenish me. I will not lend myself to people or things that will leave me empty. Instead, I will be deliberate about what I am willing to expend and what I must preserve for my own well-being.
- I am walking in kingdom's order by allowing God to guide my every move. I will follow Him, and Him only, rebuking my need for control and letting Him order my steps.
- Today, I will move in courage and try things I've always been too fearful to do. I will take risks, and big leaps if I'm led to.
I usually set my intentions each week and recite them to myself every day. This way, I work it into the practice before moving on to the next one. Others tend to repeat the same set of intentions throughout the month or year. Do what works best for you.
Setting an intention, speaking it over your day, and holding it with you as you navigate various spaces reminds you to be deliberate with every decision you make and aware of every emotion you allow to consume you.
As the year winds down, this is the perfect time to start setting your mind on how to manifest even more greatness next year. So instead of focusing on one specific resolution, work on setting clear intentions and watch the beauty of becoming unfold!
Featured image by Shutterstock.
Originally published December 29, 2018
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With a multi-layered approach to her artistry, just as she did on that winter day in December 2013 with the infamous digital drop of her self-titled album, she changed the game again on February 1, 2023, when she announced her world tour in support of Renaissance, her seventh studio album. Her cultural impact set the internet ablaze, with everyone trying to gather their coins, barter for presale codes, and figure out which cities to attend. The group chats were lit, and the Beyhive was stressed trying to get their hands on tickets.
Photo courtesy of Dontaira Terrell
Unfortunately, I was in that number. As the concert dates passed by and the one in my city drawing near all roads led to disappointment. With time ticking on the day of the Miami show and less than two hours to spare, my wallet bit the bullet, and I purchased three last-minute tickets, costing roughly $700.00 a piece (including fees) for me, my 9-year-old and 16-year-old nieces in Section 121 at the Hard Rock Stadium. With 10 minutes before showtime, we eagerly awaited the Queen to take the stage. A sea of metallic fringes, cowboy hats, disco fans, and western boots were in full effect and filled the entire stadium.
As the lights dimmed, a flood of emotions instantly overtook my body. It continued with each note she belted, along with nearly 50,000 roaring fans. The reverberating sound of the music through the stadium transported me from one era of my life to the next. As a teen girl in her bedroom daydreaming about her first love to blossoming into an unapologetic Black woman who is still on a road of self-discovery while learning to lean into the power anthem of "You won't break my soul." For over two hours, and with each set, I felt joy, love, peace, and a commanderie with fellow concertgoers. It was therapeutic as I danced like no one was watching and sang as if I were alone in my bathroom mirror.
There were no bars held, and I realized at that moment, "Nobody can judge me but me." The "Renaissance World Tour" proved to be so vast, and my Black girl joy was re-invigorated. It was magnetic and liberating, and I had to attend again, but this time, I needed to be up close and personal; I needed to be on the floor. In the days that passed, I watched more social media clips in different cities and asked myself if I would really splurge again to attend another Renaissance show.
Photo courtesy of Dontaira Terrell
After all, this would be my thirteenth time (maybe more because I lost count) seeing Beyoncé live, whether she was on tour with Destiny's Child, as a solo artist, or doing a live appearance. I contemplated for a while, but it worked itself out on its own. I was gifted two tickets and the next thing I knew, I was off to LA to attend another Renaissance show with floor seats at SoFi Stadium during Beyonce's 42nd birthday weekend! This time, things were different: no kids were allowed. It was adults only this go round.
Although the energy at the Miami and Los Angeles shows was empowering, infectious, and a celebration of life, happiness, and identity, they each provided their own unique experience. However, both concerts were what I needed for my well-being, leaving me with sore feet from dancing the night away, on vocal rest for the next few days from screaming at the top of my lungs, and on an indefinite high on life.
My introduction and love for Beyoncé began in 1996, while my older sister lived in Houston, TX, right before Bey hit the scene in 1998 with "No, No, No" as a budding R&B member. Her evolution twenty-seven years later as an international superstar and into womanhood has been an incredible journey to witness. As Mrs. Carter reminds each of us in the audience every night before the curtain closes, "I want you to remember this moment, where you're standing, who you came with, and take it with you. I hope you feel inspired."
I truly felt inspired, so thank you, Queen Bey. You awakened my inner child, and I will definitely remember these moments and take them with me.
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Feature image by Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Parkwood
