With January 2023 right around the corner, it is almost time to celebrate National Be On-Purpose Month! This holiday is intended to encourage us to start the New Year by putting our good intentions into action, personally and professionally! It’s time to say goodbye to confusion and hello to clarity as we integrate more purpose, meaning, and intentionality into our lives. It can be easy to be caught up in the monotony of everyday life. We can oftentimes forget to live life with intention. The excuses come rolling in and before we know it, it’s been a whole year and you haven’t achieved anything you wrote down on your New Years' Resolutions list. With January 2023 being National Be On-Purpose Month, let’s set the intention right now to live life with purpose and to put our dreams into action!
Now, is the time to shift your focus from planning to doing! It is easy to say you will do something or to write your resolutions down on a piece of paper. However, the whole point is to move your thoughts into action! Here are 5 ways you can spark your intentions into action this New Year.
- Make a Plan.
Earlier, I said it is time to start doing rather than planning! This step is for those who are ready to take action. Let the power of feeling equipped and ready, fuel your momentum for the upcoming year! Yes, still take the time to plan out your goals; however, don’t sit in this stage for longer than you need to. It is time to MAKE SHIFT HAPPEN, as James Patrick would say.
- Celebrate Your Successes.
Take a moment to realize that you are a person who can change. You can and you will improve and make progress! When you take the time to reflect on what you have succeeded with in the past, you’re less likely to give up when things get tough! Be proud of yourself for how far you have come already. Celebrating yourself helps build confidence and instills gratitude - which in turn will set you up for future success as well.
- Evaluate Your Relationship with Social Media.
One of the quickest ways to derail your forward momentum is the thief of comparison. Social media is a powerful platform that can be both purposeful and regretful. Set a realistic goal and try to lower your screen time or even take a “detox” or break from social media. You will be surprised to find how much more free time opens up for you in addition to freeing yourself from the temptation to see what others are doing in comparison to yourself.
- Set Realistic Expectations for Yourself.
It is important to set realistic expectations for yourself as well as others. In general, setting unrealistic goals and expectations just increases our anxiety levels and feelings of unhappiness/unworthiness. Having more realistic expectations can lead to greater emotional stability. We are thinking about longevity here! You want to accomplish your goals for the rest of your life - not just today!
- Integrate & Focus on Your Personal Values.
Have you ever really taken the time to sit down and write down all of your values? Taking the time to dive deep into one’s values can really offer you the opportunity to make sure your values align with your goals and actions. Where to start? Start by writing your values down and defining what each of them means to you. List the ways these values show up for you and therefore determine if these values are out of alignment.
As the New Year approaches, I personally invite you to follow these 5 steps to spark your intentions. Living and Being on purpose will really change your life! Southwest Institute of Healing Arts also invites you to join our Facebook Live Video Series with our various guest speakers who are touching on various topics related to National Be On-Purpose Month! These Live sessions will happen EVERY DAY in January on SWIHA’s Facebook page at 12 PM Arizona Time.
