I love new beginnings and a clean palette, which is probably why I love New Year’s Intentions so much. Note: I purposely did not use the word resolutions. Why? Well, there’s something about the word resolution. Even though I am a girl who finds Silver Linings (pretty much everywhere!), it seems as if many New Year’s resolutions are flawed from the start, simply because they are too enormous and/or the behaviors are too ingrained. Potato – PotAto, I know. But I believe in the power of a word and I find the word “resolution” to be somewhat pejorative and/or slightly defensive whereas “intention” seems to be motivating and inspiring. It’s just how I roll.
When it comes to setting intentions, I like to document them using good ol’ fashioned pen and paper. When I was in nursing school, one of the things that was ingrained in my training was that “If you don’t write something down, it didn’t happen.” So, I pulled out my 2013 journal (I loooooove a brand new journal) and began writing. This year, I categorized my intentions into the following 4 categories:
Mental
Physical
Social
Spiritual
Why these four categories? Well, they have a very special place in my heart. When I was a little girl, I went to Camp Miniwanca in Michigan. To this day, they are the happiest memories (and ultimate Silver Lining) from my childhood. The motto of the camp is:
My Own Self,
At My Very Best,
All the Time.
How great is that? I mean, really? To add to its coolness, the mission of the Camp Miniwanca is to inspire people to discover and develop their personal best, to seek balance in mental, physical, social and spiritual living and to make a positive difference in their communities and in the wider world.
Since my experience at Camp Miniwanca, I’ve always tried to live with a balanced “4-Fold” way of life. It’s hard. Of course. In fact, since my FBC diagnosis, I got myself way out of whack and off track. Understandably. Over the holidays, I thought a lot about how I’d like to have this 4-fold way of life at the forefront of my life again. Now that I’m healthy, I feel like I can endeavor to do so. Here goes….
How about you? What are your intentions for 2013?
Please begin with some flowers from Sweetly Six
I love this post and this blog! And I can tell you, having worked with attorneys for many, many, many years “If you don’t write something down, it didn’t happen.” is soooooo true. My intentions for 2013 are to get healthy, stay positive and focus on the many Silver Linings in my life. Carpe diem!
How wonderful, E.B.! Thanks so much for sharing.
I also enjoyed Camp Fire Girls camp as a youngster, and while in college as a camp counselor and swimming instructor. Our motto was WOHELO – work, health, love. It is still appropriate today; the balance of having good work or service, good health, and love in your life. Those are my intentions for 2013.
As psychologist and author Wayne Dyer says: "Choose to be in close proximity to people who are empowering, who appeal to your sense of connection to intention, who see the greatness in you, who feel connected to God, who live a life that gives evidence that Spirit has found celebration through them." What a silver lining thought!
Oh how fabulous, Carolee! What wonderful intentions for 2013.
Isn't Wayne Dyer fabulous? I actually get to meet him this weekend. How 'bout that for a small world! 🙂
Oh wow! Small world indeed!
I know, right? Super fun!