211. The Universe Within: Aligning Resolutions, Goals, Intentions, and Joy

[00:00:05] Welcome to Episode 211, which is a Girl Take the Lead soundbite, which is a shorter episode that may be a bit more about a topic we've covered or a quick inspiration like our episode today. And I'm your host, Yolanda Canny. Today we're talking about resolutions, goals, intentions, and joy, what makes each term different and how they can work together. So let's start with some interesting statistics I found.

[00:00:35] A Consumer Insights survey of a thousand US residents revealed that the top response regarding resolutions for 2025 was surprising. Four in 10 respondents stated they do not plan to make any resolutions for the upcoming year. Why might that be? Perhaps they get that they just don't work.

[00:01:02] It's not too surprising considering that research also shows only nine to 12% of people actually keep their new year's resolutions. So what does work? A 2022 study found that setting daily intentions improved focus and emotional regulation in 73% of participants. Hmm, interesting. With that in mind, it might be helpful to

[00:01:32] define what we're going to define what we mean by resolutions, goals, and intentions. Let's break it down. A resolution is a firm decision to change a habit, behavior, or situation. And they focus on creating or breaking habits to improve oneself. Examples are to quit smoking or eat healthier. The good thing about a resolution is that they provide a clear starting point for personal change.

[00:02:03] We did an episode about changing habits. We did an episode about changing habits. We did an episode about changing habits that might be helpful and I'll link to it in the show notes for you. Goals on the other hand are specific, measurable, and time bound. And they target what you aim to achieve. Goals concentrate on a clear endpoint. And we're definitely part of any marketing plan I ever did.

[00:02:36] So we're going to achieve. You're going to achieve. Goals don't do this. And we're going to be able to achieve our goals. We're going to achieve our goals and goals. We're going to achieve our goals. And I'll see you next week.

[00:02:40] Goals often require planning, milestones, and actionable steps.

[00:02:46] An intention is a purpose or aim that guides behavior and thought. Unlike resolutions, which are often rigid with a specific outcome, like I will lose 10 pounds.

[00:03:00] intentions focus on the process and underlying values like, I will prioritize self-care and

[00:03:09] wellness. Intentions emphasize the present moment and personal growth, while resolutions are future

[00:03:18] focused and often outcome based. Intentions are adaptable to life's changes, whereas resolutions

[00:03:28] can feel more rigid. Intentions are grounded in intrinsic values, while resolutions can stem from

[00:03:37] external pressures. So when starting a new year, the focus seems to be just on making a resolution

[00:03:46] without having other distinctions around goals and intentions. And I propose we look at the three

[00:03:55] terms together as a system for change. I know I can hear you, right? But yo, that'll take some work.

[00:04:05] And I say, that's right. Perhaps that's why we give up on resolutions. We're missing a structure

[00:04:14] for fulfillment and a system to go with it. And that's where goals and intentions and a connection

[00:04:22] to a higher power come in. We'll talk more about that in a minute. But to help us understand how

[00:04:29] the system might work, I consulted Gabby Bernstein's book, The Universe Has Your Back.

[00:04:38] Let's first look at goals and intentions. Goals, as we said, set the destination.

[00:04:46] Intentions guide the experience. Example, if your goal is to write a book, your intention might be to

[00:04:53] trust the creative process and enjoy each step. Gabby would offer us that true manifestations happen

[00:05:01] when we trust that the universe is working in our favor. And what about resolutions and intentions?

[00:05:10] Intentions. Intentions make resolutions sustainable by focusing on the journey, not just the outcome,

[00:05:18] but they're both important. Example, rather than resolving to meditate daily, your intention could

[00:05:26] be to create moments of stillness, allowing flexibility in your practice. Bernstein teaches

[00:05:35] that when we align our energy with the universe, intentions manifest naturally. It's about trust and surrender,

[00:05:45] not rigid control. She would say, choose love over fear as a guiding intention.

[00:05:55] Reminded of an episode I did with my podcast friend, Nicole Trick Steinbach, career coach for women in tech.

[00:06:04] We explored Annie Duke's book, quit, which also explored the flip side, grit.

[00:06:13] One takeaway is that while grit can drive us to push through challenges and stick to our goals,

[00:06:21] Annie Duke reminds us that knowing when to walk away is equally important.

[00:06:27] Resolutions, goals, and intentions shouldn't trap us into paths that no longer serve us.

[00:06:34] Instead, by staying aligned with our values and tuning into the universe's flow,

[00:06:41] we can pivot when needed and stay open to opportunities that better match our journey.

[00:06:50] So right now, you could be saying to yourself, got it, yo.

[00:06:57] So we need all three terms with manifestation and grit, perhaps sprinkled on top.

[00:07:03] How do I get started?

[00:07:06] Recently, my friend Sheila, who has been a guest on the show several times,

[00:07:10] offered me the following questions that I wrote about, and you can journal on,

[00:07:17] that I found very helpful in grounding my direction for 2025.

[00:07:23] It broke up some of my limiting beliefs and got me in touch with different parts of myself.

[00:07:30] By the way, I'll have them listed in the show notes for you in case you're driving or listening to this podcast

[00:07:37] and can't write them down, but I'll have them as well as the distinctions between goals, resolutions,

[00:07:44] and intentions in the show notes.

[00:07:46] Here are the questions Sheila passed along to me.

[00:07:50] One, what do I have now that I wished for in the past?

[00:07:57] Two, what changes would I like to make in 2025?

[00:08:01] Three, what do I want to bring into my life in 2025?

[00:08:09] Four, what am I settling for?

[00:08:13] What feels neutral or out of alignment?

[00:08:17] Five, what wins, accomplishments, and triumphs can I celebrate?

[00:08:25] Six, what challenges have I faced and what lessons have I learned?

[00:08:31] Seven, what am I grateful for?

[00:08:36] Eight, how has my life changed over the past year?

[00:08:42] And nine, in what ways have I evolved and grown?

[00:08:51] Okay, so there's one more thing I'd like to offer you from Gabby's book.

[00:08:57] And hold on, because I think she brings forward another reason why resolutions, goals, and intentions may not work.

[00:09:06] Here's what she says.

[00:09:09] Even when we make a commitment to love and happiness, we often find it hard to give up the fear we've grown to depend on.

[00:09:21] We give purpose to our pain, believing struggle and strife are necessary to success, or lasting journey, or a meaningful life.

[00:09:33] And we feel safe in a state of conflict and control.

[00:09:39] We carry an unconscious belief that in order to stay alive, we must hold on to our protection mechanisms, no matter how great love may feel.

[00:09:52] You may be doing all you can to create freedom, connect to flow, and release your fear-based habits.

[00:10:00] But it's likely that the moment you feel some sense of relief, you're blindsided by the shadow of fear that dwells below the surface.

[00:10:11] You may not have recognized this pattern before, but when you do, you can begin the journey towards freedom.

[00:10:19] That's because the primary reason for our unhappiness is startling simple.

[00:10:26] We are resistant to being happy.

[00:10:30] Oh boy, I told you to hold on.

[00:10:34] You may want to pick up her book to read the universal lessons she offers throughout the book.

[00:10:41] The first is, to be free, we must acknowledge our resistance.

[00:10:48] So in an effort to leave you with a positive note, her next universal lesson is that our happiness, success, and safety

[00:10:59] can be measured by our genuine capacity to tune in to the loving vibration of the universe.

[00:11:08] I really liked it when she said this.

[00:11:11] Joy is our birthright.

[00:11:15] What blocks our joy is our separation from love.

[00:11:20] We separate from the love of the universe by giving purpose to pain and thinking power comes from outside sources.

[00:11:29] We deny the power of love.

[00:11:32] We deny the power of love and we save our faith for fear.

[00:11:36] We forget love altogether.

[00:11:43] So maybe as we plan our year ahead with resolutions, goals, and intentions,

[00:11:50] we can trust and surrender to the power of the universe.

[00:11:54] We will always be guided to exactly what we need.

[00:11:59] We can ask the universe for help.

[00:12:03] We just need to tune in to the energy of the universe so that we can get into the flow with the supportive, loving energy.

[00:12:13] When we're in alignment with this energy, life becomes a happy dream.

[00:12:20] As has become a new habit for me, I've written a closing poem I hope you'll enjoy called,

[00:12:28] Aligning with Love, The Universe Within.

[00:12:32] As dawn unfolds its gentle hue, a whispered promise, bright and true.

[00:12:43] Not bound by fear nor tethered tight, but guided by love's eternal light.

[00:12:52] Intentions bloom, soft and pure.

[00:12:57] A compass steady, steadfast, sure.

[00:13:02] Goals set the course, a beacon bright.

[00:13:08] Resolutions spark the drive for flight.

[00:13:11] The universe flows.

[00:13:14] The universe flows.

[00:13:15] It's love unseen through every moment, serene between.

[00:13:21] It calls us to the here, the now.

[00:13:25] A sacred space where we allow.

[00:13:29] Where joy resides.

[00:13:32] Where trust begins.

[00:13:33] Where every journey softly wins.

[00:13:38] No rigid lines.

[00:13:40] No ticking clocks.

[00:13:43] Just open doors and flowing walks.

[00:13:47] So set your heart, your soul, your mind.

[00:13:52] To love's vibration.

[00:13:54] Free.

[00:13:55] Aligned.

[00:13:57] Ask the universe.

[00:13:59] Let joy begin.

[00:14:00] And build the life you dream within.

[00:14:05] For in this life, with all we do.

[00:14:09] Resolutions, goals, and intentions too.

[00:14:14] With love as our guide.

[00:14:16] And trust as our key.

[00:14:19] We align with the flow.

[00:14:22] And set ourselves free.

[00:14:26] Thank you for listening today.

[00:14:27] And we sure hope you enjoyed this episode.

[00:14:29] If you did, please leave a comment wherever you listen to your podcasts.

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[00:14:56] Here are three takeaways from our episode today.

[00:15:01] One, goals provide structure.

[00:15:05] Resolutions inspire change.

[00:15:08] And intentions ground us in trust and purpose.

[00:15:12] Together they form a balanced and holistic approach to personal growth.

[00:15:17] Two, one of Gabby Bernstein's wisdom was,

[00:15:23] When we release fear and align with love,

[00:15:27] our intentions effortlessly manifest into reality.

[00:15:34] And three, another of her insights was,

[00:15:39] Joy is our birthright, but we block it when we separate ourselves from love.

[00:15:45] We do this by giving purpose to pain,

[00:15:49] seeking power outside ourselves,

[00:15:52] and placing our faith and fear instead of love.

[00:15:56] Reconnecting with love restores our joy and aligns us with the universe.

[00:16:01] Our next episode will feature our guest, Amanda Kenderes, author of the book,

[00:16:10] Talk Types, how what we say reveals who we are.

[00:16:14] And giving us a generational perspective,

[00:16:17] my daughters Kiki, the Gen Z here, and Emma, the millennial,

[00:16:21] will join us to talk about our talk types.

[00:16:26] I promise you, it'll be fun and so informative to learn from Amanda,

[00:16:33] how outdated beliefs about communication can not only hold us back in personal relationships,

[00:16:39] but also steer us into ineffective workplace dynamics,

[00:16:45] costing us connection, clarity, and personal fulfillment.

[00:16:51] I'm telling you, do not miss this episode.

[00:16:54] You might find yourself saying,

[00:16:57] I wish I had heard all this before that holiday meal with the family.

[00:17:04] So tune in.

[00:17:05] I promise it'll be helpful.

[00:17:08] Talk to you soon.

[00:17:10] Bye.