“If it is important enough to you, you will find a way. If it is not, you will find an excuse.”-Ryan Blair

To truly get the most out of the year ahead and out of your life in general, set some intentions and don’t just leave it there but be proactive in making your dreams and goals come to life. If you really want to achieve something, you must participate in the process of making it happen.

Sometimes the hardest part about setting intentions is knowing or figuring out what it is that you really want. We often have fleeting bursts of inspiration, where we imagine starting something we think we will love or we imagine cutting something out that we think will make us a better person and while having these bursts of inspiration is great, it isn’t alone enough to achieve these aspirations; however, it is a good place to start.

So, what is it you want?

Step One - Brainstorm

On a piece of paper draw a big circle. Inside the circle brainstorm and write down everything and anything you want; use your intuition to guide you and just pour words from your heart into the circle. Don’t be afraid to dream BIG. It doesn’t have to be neat or concise in anyway and you don’t even have to believe you can make it happen; at this stage you just need to determine whether or not you want it, and if it is going inside the circle you have just drawn. Simple.

Now, on the outside of the circle write down what you don’t want. People tend to have some certainty about what it is they don’t want, which can be really helpful when it comes to figuring out what it is you do want, as at least you know what to steer clear of.

Step Two - Create Goals

Create some of your own steps! Whether it is something you consider a big dream or not there are always going to have to be steps that you must take in order to get there.

Dissect the words that you have written inside the circle and consider how broad or defined they are. Be clear about what exactly it is that you want and from this point create some goals that you will aim to complete within certain time-frames.

Divide a separate page into three; in one column, place goals you want to achieve within the next year, in the next column place goals that you want to achieve within the next 3 years, and in the last column put the bigger goals that you wish to achieve within the next 5 years. A lot of the goals in the first and second column may be goals that work towards the bigger goals in the third column.

Step Three - Create a Vision

Really consider if you want to or are willing to put the energy towards the steps that will get you to that final outcome and even ask yourself if the outcome is going to be worth it. What are you going to gain from this? Because the end result will be the driving force, so it has to be something that continues to inspire you to push through times of doubt.

Once you’re sure of what you want and you’ve taken some time to consider what must be done to achieve it, then keep it in mind! Create a vision board or journal. Actually take a minute each day to visualize or look at what it is you’re aiming for and keep aligning yourself with what must be done in order to get there!

Finally, be conscious of your efforts and don’t keep putting these things you want on the back burner. This is your life, go and live it!

Written by Nicole Ander