How Intention-Setting Can Get You Right For The New Year
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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Zoe Hunter is the writer, speaker, and creator behind the women empowerment brand DEAR QUEENS. She uses vulnerability, storytelling, and spiritual development to empower women toward healthy decision-making. Stay connected to Zoe's work by visiting DEARQUEENS.com or following her on Twitter @zDEARQUEENS.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Rihanna Talks Shedding Expectations And Finding Balance As A Mother
Since becoming a mother in 2022, Rihanna has defined parenthood by her terms and hopes to pass that sense of autonomy on to her children.
For Vogue China’s April cover story, Rihanna shared her perspective on raising her two sons with A$AP Rocky, and how she hopes to preserve her children’s uniqueness, devoid of societal expectations.
"The most beautiful thing...is that [children] come into the world with their own individuality and sincerity, without any logic or conformity,” she told the publication. “Which usually makes you feel that you must fit into a certain group."
The “Work” artist, known for her trendsetting style and captivating persona, expressed her desire to support children in fully embracing their individuality and encouraging them to be whoever they want to be. "It's really beautiful to see and I want to continue to help them navigate that and make sure that they know they can be whoever they want to be,” she says.
She continues, “They should embrace it completely, because it's beautiful, and it's unique. I love them just that way."
From shattering music charts to shaking up the beauty industry, Rihanna has forged a path that has since created the “dream” life we see today. One that she says has made her parents proud of.
“I’m living my dream,” she continued. “My parents were very proud of that because they just wanted me to be happy and successful. So, I think the key thing is to find some kind of balance. Yes, balance is important. Do this and you get the best of both worlds. You can write your own life the way you want, and it will be beautiful. Sometimes, you just need to let go of everyone’s expectations and start living your own story.”
Rihanna, who shares sons, RZA, 23 months, and Riot, 8 months, with rapper A$AP Rocky, recently shared her vision for expanding her family in the future in Interview Magazine.
When stylist Mel Ottenberg asked about the number of additional children she hoped to have, Rihanna replied, "As many as God wants me to have.”
"I don't know what God wants, but I would go for more than two. I would try for my girl,” she adds. “But of course, if it's another boy, it's another boy."
Featured image by Neil MockfordWireImage