Setting Powerful Intentions

One of the greatest ways to take care of troubles you are having in your life is to create strong intentions. Many people have the desire to be different, but they simply do not know how to go about making the changes they'd like to see. Grand goals are often set and seldom achieved, because of a lack of understanding of HOW to set the intention.

Once you set an intention to do something differently, you have to be detailed and create goals that are reachable and easy to measure. The more specific you are the better! Deciding to modify a behavior is really telling the Universe that you'll cease to preserve your routine way of living and will use a whole new set of behaviors instead.

Imagine beginning a new exercise routine- initially you'll feel ready and up to the challenge, but then you run into obstacles and must exert extra effort to overcome them. And you are prone to return to your former habits if you do not have someone to report to, or if you don't have plain, assessable, and distinct goals to achieve. Seeing your improvement is a great way to get the motivation you need to continue on.

Here is the way to set goals that can be successfully achieved: be clear and have a way to evaluate your development each week. And for those who need extra support, having an "intentions buddy" or a life coach can make a world of difference!

Many families I advise express a longing for improved communication. This is a good example of a general goal. The family and I will search for ways for them to create very specific goals. I ask them questions to help them define what it is that they truly want -- questions such as: What would improved communication look like? What will help you realize when your family begins communicating at the level you desire? How would life in your family change?

The moment these questions are answered, then they come up with certain, measurable ways to verify that they are progressing in their communication. One family determined that they needed a daily ritual to encourage communication. They started playing a game after dinner where they spend time sharing their wins and challenges for the day.

Set up a routine, a structure, and a way to determine if the goal is being achieved.

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Emily Bouchard is a loving stepmother to two young women who were teens when she entered their lives. She publishes a free Blended Families newsletter.