“Communication is a skill that you can learn. It’s like riding a bicycle or typing. If you’re willing to work at it, you can rapidly improve the quality of every part of your life.” – Brian Tracy
What is my intention for my life?
Do I even have one?
These are powerful questions and surprisingly, many of us never pause long enough to answer them.
As another year approaches, people naturally start thinking about goals and “New Year’s resolutions.” But when goals are chosen simply because they sound good, they rarely inspire consistent action.
Inspiration fuels momentum… Thoughts like “Should” and “have to” drain it.
When you find yourself constantly searching for motivation to pursue something you say you want, it’s often a sign you’re not truly connected or committed to it. Get clear on your intentions for your life. If you have inspiration, motivation takes care of itself.
When “Should” Isn’t Enough
This past year, I spent months trying — putting in effort without meaningful progress — to focus on my fitness. I set goals, reset goals, and still felt stuck.
Eventually I asked myself an honest question: Why am I not getting anywhere?
The answer was simple and uncomfortable: I felt like I should care about fitness, but it wasn’t actually a priority for me at that time. I was energized and inspired by other areas of my life, and forcing focus where there was no genuine connection created resistance instead of results.
And that realization was freeing.
Not because fitness doesn’t matter, but because clarity always creates more forward movement than obligation ever will.
Moving From Goals to Intentions
As I look toward a new year, I’m focusing less on rigid goals and more on intention, listening closely to the internal signals that say:
“Yes, this matters.”
or
“No, this isn’t aligned right now.”
If it’s not a “HELL YEAH!” it’s a “HELL NO!”
Sometimes that inner voice leads somewhere unexpected. Sometimes it asks me to aim higher or at a different target. than my carefully planned roadmap. Learning to trust it is part of living with intention.
An intention is often defined as a mental commitment to a course of action. But commitment alone isn’t enough.
- Commitment without action gets you nowhere.
- Action without commitment gets you somewhere.
- Commitment with action moves you where you truly want or need to go.
One reminder that has stuck with me comes from my coach, Kelly Poulos:
“What you know is not as important as what you act on with passion and speed.”
Your Mission (If You Choose to Accept It)
Set aside intentional time to connect with what truly matters to you.
- Create the space
Spend 15–60 minutes somewhere you feel comfortable and inspired. If you don’t have a place like this yet, start creating one. (It matters more than you think!) - Write, don’t type
Use a notebook or paper. Writing by hand slows your thinking just enough to access deeper clarity and connects deeper than typing. (If you cannot or will not write, record yourself and speak it out loud) - Set intentions for the key areas of your life
Start with these four and expand only if it feels meaningful (not overwhelming):- Mental
- Physical
- Emotional/ Spiritual
- Financial/ Occupational
If you find yourself listing more than 3-5 things for each area, you may be creating a task list rather than true intentions. Real intentions naturally generate the actions they need.
Take the time this week to write your intentions — not what you think you should want, but what genuinely feels aligned right now.
And if you would like guidance or accountability as you clarify what matters most, I invite you to continue the conversation whether that’s through reflection, discussion, or working together more intentionally.