Resolution: the act of resolving or determining upon an action, course of action, method, procedure, etc.
Intention: the end or ob
ject intended; purpose.
For many years I began each January with a New Year’s resolution — a course of action that I intended to follow. Each year I resolved to play more, exercise, buy a house, get pregnant, be a better mother, sell a house, or get divorced. Each time I decided on a course of action to take and laid out my very detailed plans — with mixed results.
While I was definitely on a path, it became clear that I needed to leave more room for Spirit to help me. I needed to stop clinging so stubbornly to my ideas about what was best for me. Because, honestly, I was usually wrong.
Last year I decided to try a new approach — to have an intention, and to let go of how I got there. I decided to let Spirit handle the details. Much to my surprise this worked much better, and my life steadily moved in the direction of my dreams during the last year. My intention for 2015? To create a life that I love.
I’m not just talking about intangible stuff, I’m talking about real, honest-to-god material, light-infused-into-matter stuff. Here are some of the highlights:
- I sold my old 88 Camry for scrap (after it literally fell apart on the road) and bought a 2013 model from the nicest car salesman I’ve ever met, who gave me a great deal.
- I sang on stage for the first time in 40 years and I learned to play the flute.
- I finished writing two books.
- I got a new job doing the work i went to grad school for and I’m being paid well to do it.
- In two weeks I’m moving into the home I’ve been seeing in my dreams and visions for 3 years.
Because it worked so well last year, I’m keeping the same intention in 2016 (hey, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it). To help me work in partnership with Spirit I made a vision board a few weeks ago. This reminds me to say yes to things that Spirit wants for me, and to know what those things are. It also helps me to know when I need to take some actions (like actually looking for an apartment).
At this year’s vision board workshop, a marvelous woman led us in a profound opening meditation to prepare us for finding and cutting out the images from magazines that would land on our boards. She asked us to close our eyes, relax, and hear or see the answer to four questions:
- What does Spirit want for you this year?
- What do you need to let go of to have that?
- What do you need to embrace to have that?
- What else do you need to know about this?
So for your New Year, perhaps you’d like to do this exercise—to take a few moments from your busy life, take a few deep breaths, and ask these questions. Maybe even make a vision board, guided by Spirit. To come up with an intention rather than a resolution for your year. I’d love to hear from you what you discover. And if you want a tour guide along this journey, please reach out and contact me.
Blessings of the New Year!
Kypris 
Click here to join the Facebook Shamanic Support Circle, a closed group of therapists and healers supporting each other.
If you’d like more help with setting intentions, I have a couple of other ways to support you. The first is the Shamanic Clarity and Balance e-course. If you’d prefer one-on-one support, you can click here for a free phone consultation with me.