You will get more out of your journey in life, if you approach it with an intention.

Wait!

‘I don’t think I’m on any journey. In fact, who journey help?

Even if your present actions are not worthwhile, I mean you’re doing something you know is bad, let this sink, it is a journey. But the wrong one to be.

In a world full of distractions, having the right intentions will not only make journeying more successful but also fun and efficient. Intentions are like determination aimed towards a purpose. Intentions are not goals, per se. While intentions serve as daily motivation, goals are set for futuristic purposes.

Better explained, intention promotes focus thereby creating a sustained change. Goals, on the other hand, are the desired outcome of a futuristic plan. For a literature student like me, goals can be likened to the subject matter while intentions are the thematic preoccupations.

For example, as a student, one of your goals will be to graduate with a First Class result. Your intentions, however, will be attempting excellently every test and assignment given to you. To achieve this will require attending classes, making and reading your notes, finding out the best time to read and assimilate and making other informed decisions that will make your goal realistic.

So why intentions?

Intentions are intrinsic motivation. They help one not to only stay focused while envisioning a final outcome, but also help one pick pieces of lessons learnt, evaluating and changing course as needed.

Moreover, our brains only have so much attention they can give. We live in a complex world with more stimuli than we can possibly process. Being purposeful with intentions helps us to cut through the noise and stay focused on what we’ve identified as personally important.

Intentions are needed to overcome fear and failure. These two are inevitable if you want to succeed in life. When faced with a challenge, the energy focused on your intention will help you find a way through that challenge and to continue onwards, and along the way, you will be more likely to enjoy the journey itself.

Action point

So while you set a SMART goal for that new skill you want to acquire or that milestone to cover, ensure you set interesting intentions that will help you realize your vision, improve your experience, and make it meaningful.