2019 – The Year of Intentional Living

Happy New Year!! We have made it to the beginning of another year – 2019.  Now is the time that many people are setting goals and making resolutions. Here is some information that I found about New Year Resolutions:

According to an article online from k-international “making resolutions is a tradition that dates back to the ancient Babylonians, possibly as much as 4,000 years ago. The ancient Babylonians celebrated the New Year on the first new moon after the spring equinox. They called it Akitu, and it was a major festival that lasted 11 days. During the festival, the Babylonians made New Year’s resolutions to keep themselves in good standing with the gods.
The spread of “Resolution Writing’ can be credited to the worldwide Protestant movement. A 1951 study by sociologist Isidor Thorner found that the practice of making New Year’s resolutions was more common in countries with a strong Protestant influence…Protestant values of ‘life-long emotional discipline as well as an attempt to live up to rigorous standards’ have influenced the spread of New Years Resolutions among Protestant nations…Over time, as Protestant cultures became more secular, this tradition took on a more jovial tone, and eventually lost its religious connection.”

Although we have had 4,000 years of practice with writing resolutions, we have have not done such a great job at keeping them. A recent Forbes online article sited that, “research shows that most of us are doomed to fail at our pledges, especially as time goes on: while about three-quarters of people stick to their New Year’s resolutions during the first week of January, that figure drops to under half by June. ”

The number one reason for failed resolutions? Lack of a clear goal and an action plan. I believe that is because we are not clear about our intention. There is a distinct difference between a goal and an intention. A goal is an external result that we wish to accomplish. Intention on the other hand is an internal experience.
In his book the Power of Intention Wayne Dyer defines intention this way: “Intention is not something you do, but rather a force that exists in the universe as an invisible field of energy.”

In other words, when you set your intention you are declaring your individuated expression of that Divine Energy, your Authentic Self, the Truth of who you really are. It is not what you have or don’t have. It’s not what you do or don’t do. It isn’t even what you believe or don’t believe. It is how you choose to BE in this world. Intention as a state of being, is you living in alignment with the frequency and vibration of that Divine Energy.

So I Declare 2019 as the year of INTENTIONAL LIVING. That means having an awareness about how you choose to show up, what you choose to say, how you choose to be, and the goals you choose to pursue as it relates to the intention that you have set. Make sure that your choices are in alignment with your Authentic Self. Here are four suggestions that jump start you on your way to Intentional Living:

1. Be Faithful to your Intention

In order to do that you must know your intention. That means taking time to get still so that you can discern what the Universe has for you, how Spirit may be guiding you, and what is resonating with your frequency and vibration. Then you will have the clarity and focus to declare your intention. Once you do that then you can use faith as a catalyst to acknowledge those divine ideas, desires, and goals that are in alignment with your intention. Put an action plan in place to move towards accomplishing you goals and finally see yourself manifesting those desires that are for your highest and best good.

2. Live in the now

Remember Intention is not based on what you did or did not do. What you have or do not have. What you need or don’t need. All of those things are based on fixed point in the past which no longer exists, or some time in the future that has not yet happened. All we have is this NOW moment. How are you showing up NOW? How are you being NOW? Is your current state of being in alignment with your intention? Live in each present moment as your Authentic Self, and you will build momentum toward achieving your goals and so much more.

3. Be of service

Deepak Chopra puts it wonderfully when he says: “The universe operates through dynamic exchange . . . giving and receiving are different aspects of the flow of Divine Energy in the universe. And in our willingness to give that which we intend, we keep the abundance of the universe circulating in our lives.” Participate fully in the Law of Giving and Receiving and you will notice a shift in your frequency and vibration that will positively affect the accomplishment of your goals and the manifestation of that which is for your highest and greatest good.

4. Live in a constant state of gratitude

Gratitude is the ultimate frequency and vibration of Universe. Gratitude is being thankful for the love, compassion, kindness, health, and prosperity that is the abundance of the Universe. Gratitude is acknowledging, strengthening, and honoring your alignment with the Divine field of energy or Intention of the Universe. Take time to reflect on all things you have to be grateful for.

Today’s Affirmation is:

I Intend to BE that which is for my highest and greatest good.

~Rev. Drea

Photo by Nicole Honeywill on Unsplash