You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail. (Proverbs 19:21 NLT)
Many times, as a new year begins, many people set new year’s resolutions or goals that they hope to follow all year long. Most do not follow through and will stop their goals sometime in the middle of January. I propose a new way of thinking about your goals. I propose that instead of resolutions or goals that we set intentions.
Intentions are simply that. I intend to walk 10,000 steps every day. It doesn’t mean that I will do that but it does set my intention to do that. I walked 10,000 steps every day in January. Yesterday, however, I gave blood which slowed me down more than I expected. This morning, still recovering, I thought it best not to run. Then it rained all day. So, I’ve missed two days. That doesn’t mean I feel guilty, because it was only an intention. I really did want to walk but neither day was feasible. So, tomorrow, I will go at it again and should make it back up to 10,000.
Intentions give yourself a little grace. Yes, it is best that you follow through on what you intend to do—that you don’t constantly live your life saying one day I will do this or that. But, if you set your intention and fail along the way you’ve broken nothing, you can simply wake up the next morning and follow through again.
—–
Photo by Firmbee.com on Unsplash