2020 proved to be a challenging year, and as we move into 2021, some of us may have expectations that are pretty low. You might be thinking that it can be a mediocre kind of year and still surpass what we’ve just come out of. Or, you might have high anticipations for the next twelve months—because you deserve a good year, or because you’re expecting the pendulum to swing the other way.
No matter what you’re envisioning for the new year, know this: Covid-19’s progression will be out of your control. Your neighbor’s choice to be vaccinated or not will be out of your control. Political leaders and their decisions might be out of your control as well.
But there are a few things you can take responsibility for in your thoughts and actions. One of them is setting your intentions for what you want and letting The Universe take care of when and how that will be delivered.
How does that feel to you? Is the part of you that likes to run the show having a meltdown? Or do these two assignments make you feel powerless?
If so, I have good news for you. Once you master these skills, you will find that you’ve never felt more powerful.
So let’s make this happen.
Setting Intentions
In order for any journey to be successful, you have to know where you’re going before you set out. What you don’t need to know is exactly how that place will look when you get there, what the weather will be like, how friendly the people will be…
Because if you wrap yourself up in knowing every detail of arrival, you’ll never have time to buy a plane ticket, get a dog sitter and pack your suitcase.
That’s why we’re going to focus strictly on what you want or choose for 2021, in a general sense. We’re not going to get sidetracked with exactly when it will come or what it will look like…because those types of things could be distractions.
So, for starters, let’s set an intention for just one area of your life. It can be your career, finances, physical health, relationships, personal growth, mental health, sexuality, spiritual life, emotions, vacations, fun…whatever you like.
Now dream into that area. What are you craving? What’s the one thing you want to experience more than anything? What can you see yourself doing?
What values are you living out? Who are you doing it with? What does it feel like?
Really feel what your mind is seeing. Experience it, because studies show that what your mind imagines, it also experiences[1]. Neurological connections are made. You are gaining expertise in that area, simply by daydreaming.
Take note of any voice that cuts in to say, “You can’t do that,” “You’re not ready,” or, “That’s not going to happen.” That’s your inner Eeyore (Winnie the Pooh’s pessimistic friend). He represents your ego creating F.E.A.R. (False Evidence Appearing Real) to keep you safe. What he doesn’t know is that none of this is dangerous…it’s just new. And sometimes he gets those two things confused.
Now turn those daydreams into intentions by saying out loud, “I choose __________ or something better.” Write it on a whiteboard, make it your screensaver, write it on your bathroom mirror, tell your partner about it…and then give up control of it.
What? Give up control of a life-changing event? I know, it sounds foreign and counterintuitive, right? But in order for change to happen, you’ve got to do some things differently.
You can now effectively tell The Universe what you want. You have made your wishes known to God, Great Spirit, Source…whatever you call your higher power. And now, it’s in his/her/their/its hands.
Because we are so unaware of the scope and breadth of The Universe’s grand plan, we cannot possibly know what is best for us and for all those who will be affected. When we make decisions and commit ourselves to only one type of outcome, we are only seeing the situation with our own limited sight, and can’t possibly know the highest good for all involved. But The Universe does. And that’s why we set intentions. Be mindful of becoming attached to the outcome. If you want to be attached to something, be attached to the journey.
You will be presented with choices that will lead to your intention as you travel along the path to reaching it. When your focus is on that intention and you’re in-tune with your intuition, you will make the right decisions. However, you cannot expect to know when the path will end, or what the oasis at the end will look like.
And that’s why 2021 will be so exciting for you. By setting intentions, you will be working toward the things that will make you happiest. But at the same time, you can give up the worry and anxiety that come with controlling outcomes.
It is empowering to turn it over and allow the best and highest to unfold. Handing it over will make the journey more enjoyable…even fun.
Looking Forward in 2021
Oftentimes, when we set intentions, our minds go directly to the fact that we don’t have what we want right now. Maybe you don’t have your dream home yet, and that feels like a punishment; or like you should punish yourself for not having it. Maybe you haven’t reached your career goal, and so your ego lists the reasons why you don’t have it yet.
It’s easy to become discouraged as you’re setting intentions—unless you remember this: You will have it…or something better.
Instead of beating yourself up for not having reached a goal yet, change the way you speak to yourself. Say, “Until recently, I hadn’t considered continuing my education.” “Until recently, I rarely spoke to my mother.” “Until recently, I wasn’t dedicating any of my paycheck to savings.”
This does something very important. It tells the doubting voices in your head that this time things are different. It tells them that you have set an intention, made a change and that you’re on the path to “this or something better.”
We all think we know what we need. All we really know is how we want to feel, and sometimes, something entirely different than what we were wishing for is the best option. We think, but The Universe knows.
And so, for 2021, let’s work on letting go of controlling outcomes. Let’s set intentions and focus on how we’ll feel when we reach our goals. And most of all, let’s enjoy the journey.
Would you find this journey more enjoyable if you didn’t have to go alone? Would you like support, safety and accountability in setting intentions? How about growth so profound that you can move on to lead others along their journey as well? The Conscious Leadership Academy is the world’s best Superleader support system, and it’s waiting for you. Find out if you’re conscious leadership material today.
[1] Tor Wager, director of the Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Laboratory at CU Boulder and co-senior author of the paper, published in the journal Neuron.
