The Power of Intention Setting

We read countless articles about goal setting and its importance, but what comes before setting down our goals to paper?

Often times when we do tasks for long periods of time we forget why we even started. What happens when your religious practices become routine? Or when, after years of growing your business, you forget why you even started?

Goal and intention setting go hand in hand. Setting your intention is an action of the heart and setting your goals is an action of the mind and intellect. Being able to strike a balance between both is key to your personal success.

So what’s the benefit of setting intentions?

1- Intentions help us look at the big picture and realize where we want to see ourselves in the next 5, 10 or 15 years or maybe even in the next month, and this sets the stage for successful goal setting. Without intention we would not know what we want to do and where we want to go.

2- Our actions align with our intentions. When we renew our intention constantly, and before beginning any task, we are reminded why it is we do what we do. It gives us the motivation to move forward with our next task and overcome the obstacles we may face along the way.

Take the time to remember why you started your business? Why you’re studying or pursuing a specific path in life? Why you began going to the gym?

3- Intentions are just as important as the deed itself. The prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said:

“Actions are but by intentions and every man shall have but that which he intended” (Al-Bukhari)

صلى الله عليه وسلم – ((إنما الأعمال بالنيات وإنما لكل امرئ ما نوى)) البخاري:1 / 15،7

Making sure our intentions are pure and for Allah’s (swt) sake will give us a sense of peace and will help us reap the benefits our actions, not only in this life, but in the next as well.

In short, intentions can viewed as your guiding light, your motivation to push through when you’re struggling and feel like quitting, and a reminder of your purpose for pursuing your goals in life.