Not a Resolution, But an Intention

For me and for most, the New Year is a time of reflection and ambition. Every time December 31 rolls around, I make it a point to journal about my achievements of the year, what happened over the past twelve months and what I learned from it all, and my hopes for the year to come. As I was penning my entry on the latter subject this afternoon, the message from me to me resonated so strongly that I felt the need to share it somehow. I nearly forgot about my blog, but when I remembered it, I realized that it would be the perfect platform to share what I feel could be such a resonant perspective.

Below I’ve copied my journal entry, with only a few personal details omitted. I hope that through reading it you’re able to gain some inspiration and insight for your own New Year’s Intentions.

December 31, 2019
12:58 pm

Well, here we are. The last day of 2019. The last day of a decade.

I try not to put too much stock into the changing of years. I’m such a sentimentalist that fretting and thinking too much about the year that’s passed and how it can never be experienced again is outright torture. This year, however, the trials are worth it.

It’s not just the beginning of a new year, but the beginning of a new decade. That fact is incredibly important to me, seeing as I was born in 2000, and therefore the 2020’s will be the decade in which I live out the entirety of my twenties. The ages of twenty to twenty-nine are cited to be the most wonderfully fun yet dreadfully terrifying years of one’s life, and I want to be fully prepared to make the most of them.

I don’t necessarily like the word “resolution”- no one really seems to in this context. “New Year’s Resolutions” are often impulsive, passing thoughts that people have during their most docile time of year. They get abandoned quickly when people return to their normal schedules, because they didn’t consider what sort of work would be required to bring their ideas into reality, and they’re not willing to truly apply the changes needed to make it happen.

So no, I don’t want to make a New Year’s resolution. I want to make something stronger; something I’ve been thinking about and developing for weeks now. I want to make a powerful intention.

I want the 20’s, the ages and the ones on the calendar, to be a decade of success, love, experience, and intense happiness. But in order to achieve those things, some important internal work must be done.

There are a million things I could say that I want to be- less jealous, less insecure, less anxious, less comparative, less depressed, less pessimistic- but all of those things point to the same end. I want to be kinder to myself- as kind as I deserve. (And I want to truly acknowledge all that I deserve!)

Lately I’ve only felt the presence of my power, divinity, and worth when I’m already feeling happy and positive. But in order to make the 20’s all that I know they can be, I need to get to the point where I can feel those things all the time, especially in my darkest moments. It’s through that realization that my carefully set intentions come to life.

I intend to be gentle with myself, reminding my soul that I am not perfect. I am human, and human is beautiful. Mistakes and imperfections are what make us gorgeously intricate and unique.

I intend to trust what’s been given to me- in thoughts, gut feelings, situations, inspirations, and people. There will be no more torturing myself with toxic situations because I don’t feel I’m worthy enough to survive speaking up. If those involved aren’t willing to make positive changes, it doesn’t mean that I’m not worth them doing so. It means that my energy is too advanced to be in that situation or environment.

I intend to be so strong in my alignment with my higher self that I see negativity for what it is: something extremely tiny that can’t penetrate my aura unless I purposely let it in. When it comes down to what matters, negativity is entirely swallowed by positivity. Negative events almost always turn into positive outcomes, at least in my experience.

I intend to completely turn around my negative self-talk. I’m going to say “I doubt it” to negative beliefs, compliment others so that it’s easier to do so to myself, and always think the best of myself instead of the worst. Of course I’ll always have things about me and my personality that need to be improved, but this way will make much faster progress than endlessly punishing myself for every flaw, leaving no room to think about how to change for the better.

I intend to make full use of the spiritual and physical gifts given to me. I intend to trust that my future is blindingly bright and my life is wonderfully enchanted. By the end of the decade, I intend to be consistently happy, enormously loving and loved, and hungry in all the best ways.

That’s not to say I’ll never be sad, angry, unsure, vengeful, anxious, etc. Negative emotions are a necessary part of life. I just intend to be in a place where I can take them for what they are, recognize their impermanence, keep them away from my soul, and know that they’re not part of who I truly am. Everything is temporary unless made otherwise.

The 2010’s- 2019 especially- were years of great development and personal growth. The 2020’s are when it all goes into practice. To get metaphorical, 2019 and the 2010’s were the research, and 2020 and the 20’s are the presentation. The 2010’s were the planning and packing, and the 2020’s are the trip.

And for the most special one, for it resonates so completely with my life’s purpose:
2019 and the 2010’s were the rehearsal. 2020 and the 20’s are the show. As of today, December 31, 2019, the stage is set, and the players are in their places. The curtain is rising on something extraordinarily divine.