Setting intention

The process of goal setting involves several steps.  Think of the steps as going from the discrete (fragmented) to the concrete (solid).  First, we visualize what we want to achieve.  Then, we set our intention.  Setting our intention helps solidify our commitment to the goal and can be a verbalized statement of what we want to accomplish.  For example, we may want to run a 5k, and we think of ourselves running in a race (visualization).  Then, we say, "I want to run the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure" (setting our intention).  Even more concrete than stating the intention outloud is to actually write it down.  Setting our intention in this way helps us to go from daydreaming about something to actually getting it on paper and planning out the steps to get there.  What may surprise us is the amount of fear that sometimes has to be overcome to go from the daydreaming phase to the intention phase.  But when we realize that every action is a choice (even non-action), we can be empowered by our decision to either set that intention or not.