A New Way to Live an Intentional Life in the New Year
“The words we use matter. The words we repeat to ourselves become our reality.”
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! And I’m not talking about Christmas. I am talking about the week between Christmas and the start of the New Year. For me this time combines wonder and hope. The magic of Christmas is fresh in our hearts and it is the perfect time to reflect on where we’ve been and where we are going.
As I have mentioned before, I enjoy intention setting and seasonal intention setting has become part of my intentional lifestyle. I have set “resolutions” or intentions–goals in one form or another–for the New Year for as long as I can remember, but this year I am doing something a little bit different.
I am committing to what I have coined “A Mantra a Month.”
What is “A Mantra a Month?”
It’s pretty much what it sounds like–one mantra dedicated to each month. This mantra will guide me and serve as my focus for the month. Under the umbrella of each mantra, I am committing to seven goals or tasks. Some of these “goals” are things I already do and want to continue doing. Others are new. At the end of each month, I can keep what is serving me and release what isn’t. It’s cumulative in the same way that all growth is–we cannot undo the people we have become on our journey.
How Do I Choose My Mantras?
I have two regular journals. One that houses my daily morning and nightly entries, and one that holds my deeper reflections, my goals, and my letters to myself. I always write reflections at the end of a year and desires for the New Year in the latter journal. Once I’ve written them, I like to look back and see how my previous year’s goals aligned with this year’s reflections. It is surprisingly incredible how well they mesh.
Upon practicing this ritual this year, I noticed that many words continue to appear over and over in this aspirational journal. These repeated words clearly represent traits that I want for my life–attributes I want to embody and priorities with which I want to align my life. These words served as the starting place for my mantras.
What If I Don’t Have A Starting Place Like Yours?
Such a starting place is helpful, but certainly not necessary. When deciding on mantras ask yourself:
What do I long for?
What characteristics would I use to describe the best version of myself?
What matters most to me?
At the end of my life, what do I want to be remembered for?
Write down any words that pop into your head, this is your starting point.
Once you have a list of meaningful words, often they are adjectives, transform them into sentences. Be sure to use first person, present tense, and affirmative voice (e.g., “I am organized” versus “I won’t be so messy”).
Examples:
I am calm.
I am confident.
I am healthy.
I listen.
I practice intentional living.
What Goals Fall Under Each Mantra?
I chose to include seven goals under each mantra because that number felt right to me. You can choose more or less, but remember to make them attainable (goals that are too easy aren’t inspiring, but ones that are too challenging are discouraging). For some mantras, writing seven action items was easy; for others, writing seven was hard. Take your time. And recognize that nothing is permanent–you always have the right to change your plan and your path.
The statements within each mantra are actionable steps that support the goal of your mantra. The more detailed the better (think specific action, quantity, frequency, duration, etc.), however it is okay if not every goal is 100% measurable.
Here are some examples from my own monthly mantras:
I am still.
I wait an extra moment before speaking. In general, I speak less.
I take walks with the purpose of noticing and being, not exercising.
I am asleep by 11:30 pm every night.
I have few “must do’s” in our schedule.
I seek more quiet time–not always needing to listen to a book, podcast, or music.
I respect my body's need for rest and allow myself to be still when it craves it. I am not busy for the purpose of being busy.
I spend time in daily meditation during which I prioritize introspection and am still long enough to hear my inner voice/wisdom.
I am joyful.
I am intentionally silly once a day.
I sing and dance regularly.
I do one thing a week that's sole purpose is to bring me joy.
I volunteer once a month.
I smile, especially when I don’t feel particularly joyful.
I ask to play with my kids on most days.
I stay off of social media.
Why Participate in “A Mantra a Month?”
I believe that language holds power. The words we use matter. The words we repeat to ourselves become our reality. Even without engaging in concrete behaviors that support our mantra, repetition of these statements has the power to shape our views of ourselves and consequently affect our actions.
This practice also creates the opportunity for renewal and reflection each month. Many struggle to practice consistency and stay dedicated to New Year’s “resolutions” in part because the commitment feels so grand. Monthly mantas shorten the “commitment” and allow us to experiment with different goals. It gives us the freedom to adapt and adjust on a monthly basis.
If nothing else, the process of choosing mantras and writing goals teaches us about ourselves and our priorities and encourages introspection and reflection.
The Takeaway
I am a huge believer in using intention setting as part of an intentional life. Setting a mantra for each month gives us the opportunity to reflect on what we want for our lives and to take steps toward living a life that aligns with our beliefs.
I would love for you to join me on this journey and to hear the mantras you choose. Happy New Year friends.
xx, Lauren
