Five intentions to follow through with in 2015

It is that time of year when we start to set resolutions, planning for the year ahead and setting goals.

Did you actually achieve all the goals that you said that you want to achieve last year?

If ‘no’ is your answer then you are not the only one. Many people set big goals at the beginning of the year and seem to struggle to achieve them. I have come up with five powerful intentions which if you follow through with them will guarantee you a year of success, less stress, happiness and great satisfaction.

1. Practice self-discipline

Train yourself to do what you are supposed to do rather than what you feel like doing.

Step 1: Behave and act in ways that reflects your values and allows you to achieve your goals.

Step 2: Be consciously aware of yourself, your behaviours and actions which will able to check and correct any actions or behaviours that do not fit your values.

Step 3: Be committed to the discipline you are practicing. If you need to wake up at 5am and you’re struggling to wake up early, you must be committed to waking up a little earlier each day until you are awake at 5am every day. Be better than the person you were yesterday.

Step 4: Have the courage to push through the pain. At times you will be pushing yourself out of your comfort zone which can be painful, you will need to have the courage to push through so that you can feel the results you will gain once the discipline becomes a habit.

Step 5: Use positive affirmations and self-talk to remind you why you are practicing the discipline and to encourage you along the way.

2. Be compassionate to yourself

Step 1: Understand yourself and the way you feel. Ask yourself why do you feel the way you do and why are you acting the way you are. Just listen to yourself without passing judgement.

Step 2: Be your own best friend and have your own back. Imagine if your good friend was in your position, how would you show support to them? Do exactly that with yourself.

Step 3: Remind yourself that you will never be perfect therefore will always make mistakes, which is part of life. The point is to make the mistakes and learn from them, so that you can do and be better.

3. Master the art of forgiveness

Holding on to a grudge or being resentful causes you pain and makes you bitter. Who wants to be bitter? Bitterness is self-destructive and it eats at you, making you unlikeable, destroying your relationships and it also holds you back. The only way to release yourself from the pain is to forgive. Forgiveness does not mean that what was done was ok. But that you know longer want to hold on to the pain. Forgiveness is healing.

Steps to master the art of forgiveness:

Step 1: Think about all the positive things that come out of the awful experience.

Step 2: Show compassion towards yourself and the other person, by try to understand where you and the other person are coming from. Why did they do those things? Try to understand without judgement.

Step 3: Forgive yourself for the part that you played, forgive yourself for allowing other to hurt you.

Step 4: Stop telling the story.

Step 5: Send your blessing to yourself and to the other person. Hope the best for them. Everyone is fighting with their own demons, everyone is learning and making mistakes.

Step 6: Fight evil and bad-mindedness with love. Don’t become the person you dislike. Be the better person.

4. Live in the moment

Step 1: Be optimistic.

Step 2: Smile.

Step 3: Allow yourself to really feel the experience and focus on what you doing.

Step 4: Take notice of your surroundings right now - the people and nature. Count your blessings.

Step 5: Commit to acts of kindness.

Step 6; Do more things that you love doing and remove things that you don’t.

Step 7: Be thankful!

How do you feel your 2015 will plan out if you set and followed through with these intentions?

Wishing you all an absolutely amazing 2015!