The Power of Intention Setting

This article from Calm outlines the practice of intention setting as a tool for exercising mindfulness and personal growth. It also provides some examples of sample intention statements and how they can be personalized for whatever you are trying to accomplish using this practice.

"Setting intentions is more than just a self-help trend—it's a transformative practice that influences how we navigate our daily lives. It's about cultivating a mindset that guides our actions, emotions, and thoughts toward a desired way of being. Unlike goals—which are often specific and target-driven—intentions are rooted in our deepest desires and values, shaping the quality of our experiences rather than just the outcomes. Through intention setting, we can identify what truly matters to us and make that the center of our daily actions and decisions" (Calm Editorial Team, 2024).

"Intention setting is a conscious and deliberate act where you identify and articulate what’s genuinely important to you. Intentions are about your inner journey and how you want to experience life. For instance, setting an intention to be more present in your daily interactions isn't about achieving a specific outcome but rather about cultivating a mindset of mindfulness and deeper engagement" (Calm Editorial Team, 2024). 

"An intention-setting practice is also about recognizing and affirming your personal power and agency. It encourages you to ask yourself questions like, 'How do I want to live,' 'What qualities do I want to embody,' and 'How do I want to relate to others and the world around me?' By answering these questions, you establish intentions that help you respond to the complexities of daily life while staying true to your authentic self" (Calm Editorial Team, 2024).

"As you evolve, so do your intentions. They can be revised and refined to reflect your own life story, adapting to your current state of being and aspirations. This flexibility is what makes intention setting such a powerful tool for personal development and self-awareness" (Calm Editorial Team, 2024).

Examples of intentions to build off of and personalize:

"I prioritize building and maintaining meaningful relationships: Setting intentions about how you want to engage in relationships can lead to more meaningful and fulfilling connections. Prioritize spending quality time with loved ones. Consider how you can cultivate empathy and understanding in your interactions" (Calm Editorial Team, 2024).

"I actively seek and create moments that bring joy into my life: This can mean engaging in hobbies, spending time in nature, or simply enjoying quiet moments of gratitude" (Calm Editorial Team, 2024).

"I explore my creative side without judgment: Whether it’s through art, writing, cooking, or any other form of creative expression, let this intention guide you to explore and express your inner world" (Calm Editorial Team, 2024).

Review

I appreciate the description of intention setting as a continuous effort to "cultivate a mindset of mindfulness" through self-reflection and analysis of how we operate on a day-to-day basis, and how this article frames the practice as a legitimate evaluation of the self, not using spiritual language or having anything to do with religious beliefs. It's a tool that anyone can use to get more out of life by asking yourself how you want to live. I have seen for myself how people dismiss this practice and undermine how it might help them get more out of life. Spending time in nature can be a mindful practice for many people, and they might not even realize it. How can design be implemented to frame outdoor recreation as a mindful activity? How can the tactics of introspection and mindfulness involved in intention setting be implemented in subtle ways that could change the way people think about what their outdoor activities mean to them?

References

Calm Editorial Team. (2024, February 13). The power of setting intentions & how to set mindful ones. Calm Blog. https://blog.calm.com/blog/setting-intentions