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Growing up, I was raised in a family that loved me, and like many families at the time, they did the best they could by teaching me what they believed to be the best way to live.
So, they instilled in me that it was important to go to school, get a good job, get married, and “settle down” with someone. I did all those things, but I was miserable.
My so-called perfect marriage was a disaster, the glam career that had me traveling all over the country was draining my soul dry, and all those years of education and college degrees had me deep in debt (I was still paying back those student loans).
I did everything I said I would do, and I hit the goals I said I would hit. However, the one goal I never worked on was my happiness. I never gave my all to working to create a life that made me feel joyful, at peace, and inspired. I was just checking off a to-do list.
Eventually, I realized that I made a bunch of goals but had no real intention for my life. The moment I started to get clear on my ultimate life intentions was the moment I started to create a life that I loved.
Intentions make up the ultimate vision for your life. They help you to figure out how you want to feel in life, how you want to impact the world and the overall purpose of your existence. Life intentions are much deeper than just making goals because until you make your life intentions, you will have no map to create meaningful goals.
Intentions give perspective on the deeper “why” factor when you are working toward your goals. Understanding your “why” helps to keep you motivated and inspired as you move forward and take action. Once you can clarify your life intentions, you can then create goals to map out your action steps.
A few benefits of setting intentions are:
Some examples of intentions are, “I intend to create a life that makes me feel free, happy, and at peace”, “I intend to use my talents and gifts to create a major positive impact on the world”, and “I intend to nourish my mind, body, and spirit so that I can live an energized and powerful life.”
Be sure to download my Intentions Setting Guide to help you focus in on the intentions you desire for every aspect of your life (i.e. finances, health, relationships, etc.).
Once you are clear on your intentions, you can then start creating goals. Goals are the major milestones that you work toward to manifest your deep desires for your life. These goals should be included in your life plan, nestled under the intention umbrella as the elements that you will work to achieve along the journey. After all, the destination of the journey is the intention you set.
So, now that you know how to stop hating yourself and your life by setting intentions, what are your life intentions? Are you ready to start creating a life you love? Get started!
Tiffiny has a B.A. in Psychology, and master’s degree in Public Health Education. She worked in consulting for over 16 years, as well as previously owning a fitness and health business. In her personal life, she used personal development, mindset and health strategies to go from being overworked in a demanding corporate career, emotionally drained in a toxic marriage, physically unhealthy, and depressed to becoming an award-winning figure level bodybuilding athlete and entrepreneur. As a women’s empowerment coach, she works to help women get clear on their goals, build confidence, increase self-esteem, take action on their deep desires and create a life they love