My body is capable of auto-piloting itself out of bed in the mornings, and my brain has a set of pre-programmed niceties to choose from when I encounter other humans, but my day only really starts once I’ve had that first glorious sip of tea. In the past, this was the point in my day when my brain, coaxed back to life from its zombie-like state, would start asking questions like: “How am I going to cope with all my commitments today?”, “How am I going to deal with (insert whatever issue is relevant at the time)?”, and “Ugh, is it bedtime yet?”. I’m sure you would agree that this type of thinking was a petty stressful way for me to start the day, but I’m also sure that you can relate in some way.
For a while now I have worked on using my early-morning caffeine kick for the power of good by slowly changing that pattern of negative thinking. The result has been days that are generally less stressful, and a mind that is far more present, optimistic and focused. If you would also like to start having better days, why not join me in starting them with an intention?
An intention is simply something that you set your mind to and which you are determined to bring about. Did you notice that there was a lot of YOU in that sentence? The key thing about an intention is that is has nothing to do with outside circumstances and everything to do with what YOU will bring about regardless of circumstances.
But how can something so seemingly simple help you change the trajectory of your entire day? Well, an intention gives you something constructive and positive to focus on instead of just letting your thoughts wander where they will – which is often right off the rational-cliff and into the worry-ditch!
Starting the day with an intention – in other words, a decisive direction – gets your thoughts oriented in that direction from the get-go. Your feelings and actions follow your thoughts, so setting an intention means that empowering thoughts can flow naturally into good feelings and positive actions.
It’s best to set an intention first thing in the morning (or if your brain is like mine and requires some gentle persuasion and caffeine to return to the waking world – as close to first thing in the morning as possible). Remember that the intention you set shouldn’t be about what you expect from anyone else, it should only be about what you will aim for for yourself no matter the circumstances you may find yourself in. After you’ve chosen your intention, think of something that will remind you of that intention as you go about your day so that it doesn’t get forgotten amidst possible busyness or stress. You could set a few reminders on your phone, put up a note where you’ll see it often, or link remembering the intention to something that happens a few times during the day – like hearing a bird call or drinking a cup of tea or coffee. On a side note – if you are a South African, the call our beloved hadeda is an excellent trigger to bring your brain back into jarring alignment with your intention. If you’re not a South African, the hadeda (h-aah-dee-d-aah) ibis has an incredibly loud and obnoxious call and is the bird we all love to hate.
If you’re not sure where to start when choosing an intention for the day, you could consider using some of the following as a starting point to draw inspiration from:
- Words and phrases that resonate with you
- Characteristics or states of being that you value and want to develop or improve on in your life
- Parts of scripture if faith is central to your life
- Quotes that get you thinking
- Real people or characters from fiction who inspire you
- Song lyrics that you love
Setting an intention for the day helps you realise that even when circumstances aren’t the best, and people let you down, you still have control over your own thoughts and actions.
Wishing you firm intentions that help you have fantastic days!
Portal to Change 