Setting your intention

“Our intention creates our reality” – Wayne Dyer 

I decided many weeks back that my theme of 2015 was Intention. To me, setting your intention means more than simply picking resolutions. Intention comes from a deep, heartfelt place where goals are fully aligned with spirit.

I want to start the new year having already cleared away the clutter (both mental and physical), leaving my truest desires and dreams in plain view. I want to be completely aligned with how I want to feel in 2015.

And what I fundamentally want is to feel peaceful.

From peace comes joy, contentment, strength, and an openness to love. I don’t feel peace when my physical and mental worlds are chaotic or disorganized. I don’t feel flexible, generous, or able to believe in myself.

For me, a peaceful foundation opens the doors for so many new things.

I’ve spent the past few days preparing our apartment for that fresh start. I’ve gone through each room and made a list of what needs to be thrown away, recycled, donated, organized, and cleaned.

The results so far have been making my heart lighter. We donated clothes and housewares to Goodwill, gave extra cat food we can’t use to an animal shelter, went through various junk drawers and closets and parted ways with things we haven’t seen or touched in years. We bought a new storage cabinet for all of my shipping supplies, so they aren’t lying in boxes on the living room floor.

My new supplies cabinet!

I’ve made a long list of all the little lingering tasks that never get done, so I can actually do them and let them go (think: organize that messy drawer of papers, return that book, throw away the old makeup in the cabinet, let go of old letters that no longer serve me). No task has been too small or obscure to add to the list. Each time I check an item off the list, a little space in my brain opens up. Our apartment is beginning to feel serene, as I know where everything is and everything we have has a purpose.

Cleaning your space before the new year is not a new idea, but it’s felt so very cleansing to take the de-cluttering seriously and actually make it happen. Make a list by room and tackle it little by little when you have time. Especially after the holidays when we’ve all brought new possessions into the home, it’s felt so good to create balance and send older possessions back into the world.

Next: creating mental space.

When I set out a few days ago to begin my 2015 planning, I first set up a little sacred space for myself. Candle lit, journal out, music on, this little heart that I received for Christmas by my side. It’s called a Heart Stone (by artist Jeremy Diller), and depending on the color of the gemstone inside the heart, the heart signifies different things. Mine means “prosperity, well-being.” I love little reminders like this.

I also pulled one of my Angel Cards to help me begin my journaling/planning. The card I pulled: Integrity.

Sacred space created

LOVE! Integrity is defined as both the quality of being honest and fair and the state of being complete or whole. Wholeness, honesty. Both qualities I’m been striving for ever since I began this journey. Honesty with myself about my truest, deepest desires that will help me to feel complete in my life. Honesty with others in every aspect of my business. Another little reminder to stay focused with intention.

Once I felt centered inside this sacred space, I pulled out my planning workbook. Last year I discovered Leonie Dawson’s Create Your Shining Year in Life and Business workbook (she has e-workbooks for both life and business, as well as this combined printed version). I’ve really loved carving out the time to explore what worked/didn’t work from the previous year, as well as what I want from the upcoming year. Her style is warm, colorful, and inviting, which makes the planning process fun.

I also read some of Danielle LaPorte’s Truth Bombs, which are just what I need sometimes to shake up any limiting beliefs I’m having. They are simple little sayings that get you thinking. Read a few and see if any resonate.

This is my version of entering the new year feeling complete: de-cluttering, building a sacred space to reflect and think, and creating goals and plans from this place of intention.

Do you have any rituals or practices that you do around the new year to help you feel balanced and ready? I always love to hear more ideas!

Happy new year,