What Is Your Intention For 2022?
“You create your thoughts, your thoughts create your intentions, and your intentions create your reality.”
~Wayne W. Dyer
Those who participate in yoga know that it is more than stretching and relaxation. Most yoga instructors start their classes with a question, “what is your intention for your yoga practice today?” According to my Alexa device, intention is an act of determining mentally upon some action or result, or a purpose or attitude. I really like the yoga practice of setting an intention, as it helps not only focus my attention during the yoga session, but often carries over into the rest of my day. It helps relax my brain and heart in many ways, as it helps me focus on something positive and purposeful.
My intentions are often around being more peaceful, calm, giving, strong, courageous, and even quiet. I find that just deciding to focus my attention on an attitude, a frame of mind, a word, an action, a quote, a Bible verse, etc. can really steady me and keep me in a positive and productive place.
Starting a new year often leads to discussions of resolutions and goals…most of which we drop fairly quickly. So, here is a new idea. Let’s set an intention.
In a recent yoga class, I began reflecting on what my intention for 2022 would be. I specifically want to consider my purpose or attitude. A quote from the newest Amor Towles book, “The Lincoln Highway” really struck me and has stuck with me, and represents what I want my intention to be for this new year.
“For what is kindness but the performance of an act that is both beneficial to another and unrequired? … For kindness begins where necessity ends.”
~Amor Towles
I especially love the part that says, “kindness begins where necessity ends.” We are expected to be kind, considerate, and thoughtful, but when we are able to take that past the expected level of kindness that is when it is life-changing to both the person we show that kindness to and to ourselves.
“Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.”
~Lao Tzu
Therefore, I set my intention for this year to find ways to express more kindness. What does this mean.
My intention is to daily look diligently for moments when I can be kind… and reflect each night on whether I have done this. For many years I had the wonderful honor and pleasure to work directly with people who were going throughvery challenging life situations.
As my career has advanced and I have moved into more leadership positions, I have lost that personal contact. In addition, like so many, I now work remotely and most of my contact is virtual… except with family. But, I also have many family and friends who I love that I rarely see in person. As we all know, we are often more kind to those we don’t know than those closest to us, and I too am guilty of this. It takes more intention to find ways to engage in acts of kindness now.
An intention to be intentional about kindness may mean saying thank-you and giving compliments more often, listening more attentively—even when I don’t think I have time. Holding my words when they might hurt, finding ways to bring joy to those who are lonely, complaining less, spreading more hope and encouragement on social media. And taking the “necessary” acts of kindness to the next level, such as tipping service people, giving gifts, volunteering my time and giving support to organizations doing good things.
“Try to be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud.”
~Maya Angelou
The key is to do something in kindness with no expectation of the kindness being returned…no return on investment anticipated. The only expected benefit is the joy of making a positive difference in another’s life.
“Sometimes it takes only one act of kindness and caring to change a person’s life.”
~Jackie Chan
“Do things for people not because of who they are or what they do in return, but because of who you are.”
~Harold S. Kushner
Think about the kindest person you know. I am sure someone came to mind. I have experienced great moments of kindness by others, and I have had the joy of bestowing kindness and love on others… and oh the joy it brought. I know I want to be known for my kindness. I have some work to do, but I hope you will join me on my journey to a more kind world. A more kind world will also be a more bold and beautiful place too!
“Kindness is like snow- It beautifies everything it covers.”
~Kahlil Gibran
What is your intention for this year?
Connecting With Sylvia:
- Facebook: @Sylvia Stinson-Perez
- Twitter: @SylviaSPerez101
- American Foundation for the Blind: afb.org
Author Bio:
Sylvia Stinson-Perez has spent her career in the blindness field, and is the Chief Programs Officer for the American Foundation for the Blind. Sylvia believes the authentic shared experience of living with vision loss can lead to the development of bold confidence in living with blindness. She loves helping others find their beauty and courage on this journey.
Sylvia has Master’s degrees in Social Work, Visual Disabilities Rehabilitation, and Business Administration. Sylvia is blind as a result of Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), however, she believes that everyone should have the opportunity to achieve their potential.
Sylvia is a wife, a mother, a friend, an advocate, and a professional dedicated to making a positive difference. She enjoys reading, cooking, travel, crocheting, writing and public speaking, and time with loved ones.
Image Descriptions:
- Woman in white long sleeved shirt holding a pen writing on a paper.
- Group of young diverse sporty people doing yoga Vasisthasana exercise, side plank pose.
- Girl giving a gift to a homeless man in the street.
- Volunteers serving hot meal to people at community soup kitchen.
- Volunteer woman visiting senior woman in the nursing home.
- The author’s bio photo is a glam photo of Sylvia in a pink dress with spaghetti straps. Her hair is in a fancy updo with a pink flower on the left of her bun.