Intentionally on Purpose
As published in the Neighbours of Olde Oakville Magazine | April 2025 Issue
Just like that, it’s spring: do you even remember the New Years resolutions you set for yourself on Jan.1? Did you go for that job, start that course, hit the gym, write that book or plan that adventure? If your answer is a no, a scoff or an overwhelming desire to run away, you are in very good and crowded company! By spring, this happens to most people. If on the other hand, you’ve been rocking those Atomic Habits (great book!) for the past 4+ months, and are feeling pretty amazing about yourself, I genuinely applaud and celebrate you! Feel free to chill out in shavasana, relishing your joy and manifesting abundance, while the rest of us have a chat about what happened.
So what happened? Let me spare you the self-loathing and excuses, and offer that life happened, as life tends to do. Setting an intention, or resolution, is the equivalent of putting an address into your GPS; and then you must drive the route. Life will send you on detours, delays, setbacks and surprises, after each of which you have a choice: recalculate the route or stay off course. The long and winding road to your goals will look different for everyone, with one very notable constant: Everyone must face their own resistance to change at some point on the journey. EVERYONE.
We all have it, that part of us that wants to keep us safe and small. That’s the part that’s scared we’re unworthy, unready, or unable to handle what’s waiting for us on the uncharted road of change. It’s the part of you that makes you sick right after you commit to a new routine or wakes you up at 3am wondering “why did I think I could do this?! I obviously can’t”. Wanting the end-goal and knowing what needs to be done are not enough: you have to find the courage and resilience to face this fear dragon, hear what it has to say, and still stay intentionally, on purpose.
This is where an accountability partner or group can do wonders: someone who understands your goals, and will give you support, encouragement, even some healthy competition to get you past this very common resistance. Positive affirmations also help, creating more empowered thought patterns to replace the negative chatter of your mind. As does celebrating every little win and giving yourself grace for the setbacks. If you don’t have someone to share these with, share them in a journal, for your future accomplished self to go back and reflect on in admiration. All these things create momentum to move you past that resistance, so use them often, and repeat as needed.
Spring is a wonderful time to recommit to earlier intentions or set new ones. The world is reborn with beauty and opportunity, and you can pull inspiration from everywhere. Take advantage of this fresh energy and just go for it, with pep in your step, intentionally and on purpose.
