Setting Intentions for the New Year

For many years, I have set an intention for the new year. It is summarized in one word. I post the word as a screensaver and on my vision board where I see it every day.

This year I have chosen the word “Discovery”. For me it embodies the idea of continuous learning and growth.

I plan on revisiting some of my core values and deciding what actions I want to embrace to strengthen those values. I want to contemplate on how I am using my time in relation to those values.

The core values that I am focusing on are communication, growth/learning/innovation, and courage.

In the area of personal growth, I plan on enlarging my practice of improving my physical health through increased exercise and meditation. During the past year I have been biking on my Peloton as part of my daily routine. I rode the bike six days a week and did a meditation on the seventh day. After some thought and conversations with friends and family I plan on adding weights, chair yoga, and perhaps walking in the neighborhood. To ensure success I would slowly add these one at a time. I will share what I am doing with my Goals Group for accountability.

I want to discover how I can bring more joy and fun into my life, while remembering that many of those moments are already in my daily life just waiting for me to acknowledge them. I find my greatest joy when I interact with others. I find this now when I work with clients and host my monthly goals group. I also find joy from visits from my son and phone calls with friends and family.

This year I want to expand my circle of friends and find more joyful activities that we can do. This will take some courage to reach out to new people.

This coming year I want to go back to discovering new places, cultures, and ideas to broaden my horizons and enhance my understanding of this world that I live in. I plan on investigating different types of travel that will make me reach but still be pleasant and in my comfort zone. I already go to conferences and am looking forward to the ICD conference this year in Toronto. Usually when I go to a conference I stay at the hotel and don’t really visit the area. This year I will investigate what else I might do and expand my trip by a few days.  

This journey of discovery will involve new challenges and learning from them. I plan to have the courage to embrace change as it appears.

Learning is a lifelong journey. In the past few years, I have not been as active as I would like to discover new information that will inspire and motivate me.

While working on my journey of discovery this year I hope to create a mindset that will encourage me to embrace change, seek out new experiences, and continually learn and grow.

I want to live fully until I die.

If you are ready to make some meaningful changes in your home or habits and want some tips, encouragement, or accountability join Diane Quintana and me in our 12-week Virtual Course. The group will offer ideas, support, and gentle accountability for working on developing plans or projects.

Jonda S. Beattie, Professional Organizer owner of Time Space Organization, and co-owner of Release, Repurpose, Reorganize. She is based in the Metro-Atlanta area. As presenter, award-winning author, as well as a retired special education teacher she uses her listening skills, problem solving skills, knowledge of different learning techniques, ADHD specialty, and paper management skills to help clients.