 I've decided that with the new year of 2025, It'd make sense to do some more writing. One thing i like about the celebration of a new year - a new cycle, is that it's a chance to set the intention for the time-period moving forward, a fresh start of sorts. Some people might think that new years resolutions are bogus, but i might disagree. This article may give you some insight into my outlook on the topic. If you're reading this in the future, this topic doesn't only apply to new years resolutions. It's simply a common application. So we'll be doing a deep-dive into intention-setting, how it's connected to desire, motivation, and self-discipline. Lets go. Living with Intention: The Key to a Life You Love Over the last few weeks, I'm sad to admit I caught myself slipping. More time on my phone, more procrastinating, watching the days blur into weeks until the month had vanished before my eyes. Sound familiar? It's that moment when you realize life is moving at warp speed, leaving you wondering: Where did the time go? Now, I understand that you don't have to live on autopilot. It's easy to get 'stuck in a rut', but you can take the wheel, and it starts with intention. I'm not talking about vague New Year's resolutions or Pinterest-worthy morning routines. This is about something more fundamental: making deliberate choices about how you spend your precious time, energy, and focus. There's a certain way I look at the flow of motivation and procrastination. I don't believe it's unusual or wrong to get into a period of stagnation. it comes and goes in cycles. We can talk about habit-forming as a solution another day. For today, the topic of exploration is intention in relation to Goal setting, The Heart of Intention Here's something most people miss about intention—it's not just about making lists or setting goals. It's about tapping into something deeper: desire. Think of desire as the spark that ignites real change. Without it, even the best-laid plans feel like empty check boxes on yet another to-do list. Let me explain. When you set an intention like "eat healthier," but don't connect with why you truly want this change—maybe it's to have the energy to play with your kids without getting winded, or to feel confident and strong in your own skin—that intention often fizzles out by Wednesday afternoon. But when you pair intention with genuine desire, That's when the magic happens. Suddenly, you're not just grudgingly eating salads because you "should." You're making choices that align with who you want to become, and it feels natural, almost effortless. Think of it this way: desire is your heart saying "I want this," intention is your mind creating the roadmap, and motivation? That's just what happens naturally when your heart and mind work together. Take a moment right now. Close your eyes and ask yourself:
When you connect with these deeper questions, you're not just planning—you're creating alignment between your innermost wishes and your daily actions. This is where real transformation begins. From Desire to Action: What Intention Looks Like Now that we understand how desire fuels our intentions, let's look at how this plays out in daily life. Think of intention as your internal compass. It keeps you aligned with your values and goals, even when life gets hectic. Instead of drifting through the day, you approach it with purpose. For example: Instead of vaguely wishing for better health, you set an intention: "I will move my body daily because I want to feel strong and energized. I want to feel strong and energized so I can be more present for my family, so i don't have to take a nap after work, instead i can play with my kids." Notice how the deeper you dig into it, the more clear the reasoning becomes. Instead of hoping for deeper connections, you decide: I will schedule weekly calls with friends to nurture our relationships. You've got the desire to maintain the relationships but why? If you know that your support network is valuable to you, that having allies in your life will come in clutch during times of need, it might provide more motivation to keep in contact. Intention brings clarity and focus to your life. It’s like saying, “This is what matters to me, this is why, and I’m going to show up for it.” Why This Matters More Than Ever In today's world, it's easy to get swept up in distractions—whether that's endless scrolling on social media, getting caught up in the latest viral debate, or saying yes to things that don't align with your goals. But when you set an intention, you take back control. Think about how often we react to life instead of directing it. That notification pops up, and we immediately check it. Someone shares a heated opinion, and we feel compelled to respond. Each reaction pulls us further from our chosen path. But intention flips the script—instead of letting the world dictate your next move, you're choosing it. It's the difference between being swept along by the current and deliberately steering your boat. Here's something crucial to understand: while motivation gets all the attention, it's actually intention-backed discipline that creates lasting change. Motivation is like a fair-weather friend—wonderful when it's there, but unreliable. When you're clear on your intentions, you act regardless of how you feel in the moment. You make the call to your friend even when you're tired, or write that chapter even when Netflix is calling your name. Your intention becomes your anchor when motivation takes a vacation. This brings us to a deeper truth about intention: there's a subtle but profound difference between being busy and being aligned. Many of us pride ourselves on packed schedules and endless to-do lists, but activity without intention is just noise. When you're truly clear on your intentions, you naturally begin to notice what fits and what doesn't. That "urgent" request that doesn't serve your deeper purpose becomes easier to decline. That quiet morning routine that centers you becomes non-negotiable. Alignment feels like coming home to yourself. Consider how much energy we spend on things that don't truly matter to us. Each distraction, each reactive moment, each misaligned "yes" drains a little more from our limited daily energy reserve. Living with intention is essentially energy management—channeling your precious time and attention toward what genuinely matters. It's not just about doing different things; it's about doing things differently. And here's where the magic really happens: setting an intention isn't just about what you do—it's about who you're becoming. Each time you choose aligned action over distraction, you're not just completing a task; you're reinforcing your identity as someone who lives purposefully. The small daily choice to read instead of scroll, to create instead of consume, to connect instead of withdraw—these aren't just actions, they're statements about who you are and who you're choosing to become. This kind of intentional living creates a powerful ripple effect. As you become more conscious of where you direct your energy, you'll find yourself naturally gravitating toward choices that reflect your deeper values. The distractions don't disappear—they just lose their power over you. Because when you know what matters most, it becomes easier to let go of what doesn't. Living with intention helps you:
The Daily Intention Framework Let's make this practical. Here's a simple framework to keep you connected to your intentions throughout the day: morning reset (5 minutes):
Midday Check-In (2 minutes):
Evening Reflection (5 minutes):
Common Obstacles and How to Navigate Them:
The Journey Ahead Your journey forward can start from this very moment if you so-choose. Whether you're reading this during your morning coffee, on your lunch break, or late at night, you have the power to shift from autopilot to purpose right now. Regardless if you have been stuck in a rut in the past, and feel there's little hope or whether you feel you're on track already, remember it begins with a choice. Living with intention is not about being perfect—it's about showing up. Sounds cliche, yes. This saying is popular for a reason. It's about making conscious choices that align with your deepest desires and values and then following through. Even the smallest intentional action creates ripples of positive change in your life. Those ripples will further extend to those around you and as a result, everyone's lives will be enriched. All by a simple choice and an action. So, what's one intention you can set right now? Take a breath. Feel into what matters most to you today. Then take one small step in that direction. Take the wheel and live a life you truly love—on purpose, one intentional moment at a time. |
Gene Media ProductionsCody Gene: Record Producer Music Methodology & Creative Lifestyle
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