Setting Intentions: A Powerful Practice for Achieving Your Dream Life

Setting intentions improves your life. 

It sounds like new age mumbo-jumbo, but it really works. 

The emotional and mental act of setting an intention helps you clarify what you want out of life and enter the right mindset to achieve it.

Here’s how it works. 

How Intentions Work

“Your beliefs become your thoughts, your thoughts become your words, your words become your actions, your actions become your habits, your habits become your values, your values become your destiny”. – Gandhi

According to Gandhi, everything in our lives stems from our beliefs. 

He’s right. The things we believe in the deep recesses of our subconscious guide our thoughts, words, actions, and lives. 

Setting intentions works by molding those subconscious beliefs through intentional messaging. 

The very act of saying “I will be happy today” as a daily intention will help you choose things in your everyday life that correspond with that intention – happiness. 

More than Subconscious

Setting intentions can help you get into the right frame of mind to work towards your goals. However, you can’t let your subconscious do all the work. 

The word “intention” does a lot of heavy lifting – so you have to follow through. 

You’re purposefully resetting your mindset, shifting your thinking, and being intentional about your everyday choices. That means you must approach your life with mindfulness about whether each choice aligns with your intention. 

Setting Intentions Vs. Setting Goals

People often confuse intention-setting with goal-setting. Although the two practices are similar, there are crucial differences. 

Your intentions guide how you want to live your life. They can be vague or general, and don’t require any measurable achievements or deadlines, because they never stop. Would you want to stop being happy after you are happy? 

No. Your intention to live a happy life should never stop. 

A goal is an achievement that you wish to attain. It’s specific, measurable, and has a timeline.  Once you achieve the result, you’ve accomplished your goal, and you can move on to something else. 

Setting intentions comes before setting goals, but the two are closely related. Setting intentions provides an overview of what you want, and the goals outline actionable steps to accomplish it.

How to Avoid Confusing Intentions with Goals

A lot of people fail with setting intentions because they set “intentions” that are more like goals. 

An intention isn’t specific like a goal. 

For example, you may have a goal to lose 10 pounds. That’s measurable and achievable, correct? 

It isn’t an intention. 

A good intention that might go hand in hand with that goal is to live a healthier lifestyle. A daily intention to set might be something like “I will make healthy choices today.”

Intentions vs. Affirmations

Intentions are similar to affirmations, but they have slight differences. Both help you shift your mindset, but the difference is in doing vs being. 

An intention is something you set out to do, while an affirmation is an undeniable truth. 

Intentions may start with the words “I will,” portending what you “intend” to do. Affirmations begin with something like “I am” because they aren’t something you have to do; they just are. 

The subtle difference is vital. 

How Do You Set Daily Intentions?

There’s no unique trick to setting intentions. All you have to do is tell yourself you’re setting it. 

However, mindfulness is key. Saying that you will be happy today when you do not intend to do anything different won’t work. You must follow through with your intention. 

Though you can just say it to the ether, I prefer these methods of setting intentions:

Journaling

The physical act of writing your intentions down will help your mind absorb them. Dedicate a few minutes each morning to journal writing, and use that time to list out two to three daily intentions. 

Say it Out Loud

While writing, say your intentions out loud. Get as many senses involved as possible. See it, hear it, vocalize it, feel the vibrations of the intention dancing on your tongue. 

Repetition

The more we say something, the more our subconscious minds absorb it.

Repeat your intention three times while journaling, and repeat it throughout the day. Take intention breaks to sit with your intentions and repeat them to yourself. 

Whatever Works

Some folks don’t like journaling, and some feel weird about talking out loud to themselves. 

That’s okay. 

There’s no right or wrong way to set an intention. These three methods work really well, but simply saying it quietly to yourself works too. 

Do whatever works for you – even if that means writing Post-it notes on the mirror or screaming them into your pillow. 

Examples of Intentions to Set

Ok, you’re sold. You want to start molding your subconscious through intention setting. 

But what intentions should you set?

The options are endless, and while that’s a bonus for some, it can be overwhelming for others. 

If you’re struggling, consider your life goals, and contemplate how an intention might help you achieve them. 

Intention setting will help you live your best life, but you must know what your best life is before setting them. Only you can answer that. Setting an intention that doesn’t align with your ideal life may hinder rather than help. 

With an understanding of what makes a good intention, let’s explore some you might want to set for yourself.

“I will choose happiness today.”

Sometimes being happy is a choice. You can’t control what happens around you, but you can control how you react to it. You can try to be more optimistic about what you have in your life and let go of the things you can’t change. 

Set an intention to see the positive side of things and try to choose happiness.

“I will do my best today.”

Whether your best is running a marathon or just getting out of bed doesn’t matter. It is vital to set an intention to do it, whatever that may be. Perhaps your best is someone else’s poor, but that’s okay.

If something is worth doing, it’s worth doing poorly. And if your best isn’t all that great, that’s okay too.

“I will live authentically today.”

Do you ever do things because it’s expected of you rather than because you want to do them? 

Maybe it’s time to live your life for you. Set a daily intention to live authentically, the way you want to live.

“I will allow myself to be human today.”

Nobody is perfect. There is no shame in making a mistake. Allow yourself to be a real person with real flaws. Allow yourself to make those mistakes and learn from them.

Set an intention to give yourself a break if you need one.

“I will be open to success today.”

Sometimes we don’t see opportunities that are right in front of us. This intention can help us keep an open mind about new possibilities and permit ourselves to achieve success. 

These are just a tiny handful of intentions that you can set for yourself – there are so many more. The best intentions for you depend on what you want to achieve.

Using Intentions to Achieve a Goal

Setting intentions is the first step towards setting and achieving your goals.

Let’s return to our example of the intention “I will make healthy choices today” and see how it relates to setting specific goals.

I Will Make Healthy Choices Today

You can set several goals that would align with this mantra. 

You might aim to do 10 minutes of meditation to relieve stress and help you achieve inner peace. Another goal might be to work out for 30 minutes or to make a healthy lunch. These specific goals align well with the intention of making healthier choices.

When you are setting goals, you should remember the SMART goals acronym. Smart goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely. You can use this method for both short- and long-term goals.

Your intentions aren’t any of those things, but knowing how you want to live can help guide you when you are making goals. That’s why setting intentions is vital to goal setting. 

Resources For Setting Goals and Intentions

Although you don’t need anything to set intentions, a few things can be helpful. My favorite tools for setting intentions are a journal and colorful pens. It’s old school, but it works for me. 

I also love to write my intentions out on Post-it notes, attaching them to my mirror or something else I see daily (the fridge is a great place to remind yourself that you will make healthy choices!). 

You could also put your intentions on a vision board. Create a collage of the life you want to live and keep it in a place where you can see it regularly. This will help you visualize your dreams and make it easier to set intentions and goals for achieving them. 

Using Intentions to Live Your Dream Life

Now that you know how to set intentions and why they are essential, start using them! 

100 Daily Intentions to Set

We provided five great examples of intentions you can set, with information about how and why they work. 

Here, we’re offering 100 more, but just a simple list of daily intentions that you might want to consider. 

Choose the ones that align with you. Start setting daily intentions today, and work towards living the life of your dreams.  

Mindset & Inner Growth Intentions

I will stay present.

I will choose peace over stress.

I will observe my thoughts without judgment.

I will let go of what I can’t control.

I will trust myself.

I will speak kindly to myself.

I will focus on progress, not perfection.

I will embrace uncertainty.

I will remain curious.

I will be aware of my emotions.

I will respond, not react.

I will challenge limiting beliefs.

I will stay grounded.

I will cultivate patience.

I will choose optimism.

I will accept myself, including my flaws.

I will grow through discomfort.

I will release negativity.

I will be mentally flexible.

I will honor my feelings.

I will face my fears.

Health and Well-Being Intentions

I will nourish my body.

I will stay hydrated.

I will move my body daily.

I will rest when I need it.

I will prioritize sleep.

I will listen to my body.

I will reduce stress.

I will take breaks without guilt.

I will spend time outdoors.

I will protect my energy.

I will limit harmful habits.

I will fuel myself with purpose.

I will care for my mental health.

I will slow down.

I will create balance.

I will feel strong in my body.

I will treat my body with respect.

I will unwind intentionally.

I will show up energized.

I will protect my peace. 

I will prioritize my well-being.

Intentions for Connecting with Others

I will communicate clearly.

I will show appreciation.

I will be present with others.

I will offer support.

I will build meaningful connections.

I will forgive where I can.

I will set healthy boundaries.

I will express love openly.

I will be honest.

I will uplift others.

I will resolve conflicts calmly.

I will respect differences.

I will give without expectation.

I will receive kindness gracefully.

I will nurture important relationships.

I will be dependable.

I will encourage growth in others.

I will create safe spaces.

I will connect authentically.

Productivity and Purpose Intentions

I will focus on what matters most.

I will manage my time wisely.

I will follow through on commitments.

I will take consistent action.

I will eliminate distractions.

I will stay organized.

I will work with purpose.

I will complete what I start.

I will prioritize effectively.

I will take the initiative.

I will learn something new.

I will embrace challenges.

I will stay disciplined.

I will adapt when needed.

I will make meaningful progress.

I will use my time intentionally.

I will stay motivated.

I will improve daily.

I will take smart risks.

I will create value.

Joy and Fulfillment Intentions

I will have fun.

I will laugh often.

I will express creativity.

I will try something new.

I will embrace playfulness.

I will find beauty in small moments.

I will follow what excites me.

I will pursue my passions.

I will stay inspired.

I will celebrate wins.

I will enjoy the journey.

I will create freely.

I will explore new ideas.

I will be spontaneous.

I will cultivate gratitude.

I will live fully.

I will welcome joy.

I will make time for hobbies.

I will appreciate life deeply.

I will feel fulfilled.

I will appreciate every moment of life.