Member Log In All Posts Mental Wellnes Search New Year, No Pressure Joelle Moray Jan 1, 2025 3 min read The start of a new year often brings the pressure to set big, ambitious resolutions. Lose weight. Save more money. Work harder.
But resolutions often focus on external goals that can leave us feeling overwhelmed, unmotivated, or disconnected.
This year, let’s take a different approach: setting intentions. Intentions aren’t about what you think you “should” do; they’re about aligning your actions with your values and how you want to feel.
When you connect your goals with your values, everything flows more naturally. Consistency and willpower aren’t what keep you going—alignment is. Here’s how to approach this year with intention, ease, and purpose.
Resolutions often focus on external achievements: hitting a specific weight, saving a specifc amount of money, or reaching a milestone at work. While there’s nothing wrong with these goals, they can feel disconnected from who we are and what truly drives us.
• Instead of “I need to lose 20 pounds,” try: “I want to nurture my body and feel energized.”
• Instead of “I need a promotion,” try: “I want to bring creativity and purpose into my work.”
Intentions connect your goals to your values, making it easier to show up for yourself every day.
The hustle culture we live in often celebrates willpower and motivation as the keys to success. But the truth is, these are fragile motivators.
When our actions align with our values, we don’t need to force ourselves to do things. Instead, we feel drawn to them. For example:
• Telling yourself you should get up early and workout requires the myth of motivation. However, if you value your health, it’s easier to make choices that nourish your body because they align with how you want to feel.
• The hustle culture teaches us to say things like, "Once I get through the holidays, then we can meet up for dinner." However, if you value connection, you’ll prioritize quality time with loved ones because it fulfills you.
By focusing on alignment, we create a sense of ease and flow—where showing up for ourselves feels natural, not forced.
Write down what comes to mind and use this as your foundation for setting intentions.
Identify Your Core Values: Core values are your guiding principles—the things that matter most to you. Examples include:
For each value, set an intention that reflects how you want to embody it in your daily life.
• Value: Health. Intention: “I will nourish my body with food, movement, and rest.”
• Value: Connection. Intention: “I will cultivate meaningful relationships by spending intentional time with loved ones.”
• Value: Growth. Intention: “I will explore opportunities that challenge and excite me.”
Ask yourself: How do I want to feel this year? Examples might include: peaceful, energized, inspired, or fulfilled. Let these feelings guide your actions and choices.
Intentions aren’t about massive overhauls. They’re about small, consistent actions that align with your values. Start with one or two small changes that feel doable and meaningful.
This year isn’t about getting it perfect. It’s about showing up for yourself in ways that feel aligned and authentic. When your actions are rooted in your values, everything flows with greater ease—and you no longer have to rely on willpower to make it happen.
This year, let’s trade pressure for purpose and create a life that feels meaningful, joyful, and fully aligned with who we are.