I always love the start of a new year. It’s a chance to reset and begin a new chapter in life, where happiness is not a wish, but a simple equation. In this blog, I thought I’d share the practical steps you can take to combine the power of your intentions with the Law of Attraction so that you can discover your own unique Happiness Equation for creating your best year yet.
The Foundation: Intentions — Crafting Your Blueprint for Joy
Imagine your intentions as the blueprint for the life you desire. They are the carefully drawn plans that guide your actions and decisions. Setting clear intentions is like plotting your course on a map – it gives you direction and purpose.
Life Coaching Tip: Reflect and Clarify
Take a moment to reflect on what truly brings joy to your life. What are your passions, values, and aspirations? Write them down, and let this act as the foundation for your intentions.
I once worked with a client who found great joy in creative pursuits. By setting intentions focused on allocating more time for her artistic endeavors, her life become much happier and more fulfilling.
Formulating Value-Based Goals
Intentions become even more powerful when they are rooted in your core values. These values are the guiding principles that define who you are and what truly matters to you. When your goals align with your values, they carry a deeper sense of purpose and authenticity.
Life Coaching Tip: Align with Your Values
Start by identifying your core values – the principles that resonate with you on a fundamental level. Whether it’s integrity, compassion, growth, travel, adventure, or connection, let these values guide the formulation of your goals. If you’d like to discover your values and aren’t sure how to do this, try this free list of True Values to give you some ideas. I also go into depth on how to discover your values in my books, The Secret Laws of Attraction: The Effortless Way to Get the Relationship You Want and Coach Yourself to a New Career.
A client of mine discovered that family and personal connection were her core values. By setting intentions centered around spending quality time with loved ones and fostering strong connections, her goals felt more meaningful and fulfilling. I suggested that she organize a family reunion that year and not only did she have a great time, but the entire family enjoyed it so much they are now making it an annual event. This is a perfect example of orienting your life around your core values. If you value family and connection, this goal is highly likely to make you happy.
The Clarity of Value-Based Goals
Value-based goals provide clarity and direction. They serve as a compass, ensuring that your intentions are not just about external achievements but also about internal fulfillment. When faced with decisions or challenges, refer back to your core values to stay true to your authentic self. When you orient your life around what is most important to you and what you truly love doing, you’ll start attracting better opportunities and people effortlessly.
Life Coaching Tip: Evaluate Alignment Regularly
Periodically assess your goals to ensure they remain in alignment with your values. This ongoing evaluation allows for adjustments and refinements, ensuring that your intentions consistently reflect the person you aspire to be.
I’ve seen clients experience profound transformations when they shifted from generic goals to value-based ones. One client, driven by the value of continuous learning, set intentions to acquire new skills, resulting in a career change that brought them immense professional and personal satisfaction.
The Power of Positive Language
Intentions are not just about what you want to achieve but also about how you frame them. Positive language plays a crucial role in shaping your mindset and, consequently, your reality.
Life Coaching Tip: Phrase with Positivity
Instead of saying, “I want to eliminate stress,” try, “I have a calm and peaceful mindset.” This subtle shift in language can make a significant difference. State your goals and desires as if they already are true for you, not something you hope will happen.
One of my clients struggled with the intention to ‘lose weight.’ By reframing it as ‘cultivating a healthy and active lifestyle,’ they not only shed pounds but also gained a newfound appreciation for their well-being.
Personally, I find that in the healthy eating department, it is much easier to focus on adding in foods than taking them out. For example, this year I’m resolving to eat loads of veggies. As I focus on making sure I’m eating at least thirty different types of vegetables a week and filling my plate mainly with veggies, without effort I’m eating less or no dessert. Not because I don’t want to, but because I’m so full I don’t have room! If I focus on avoiding a particular food, the opposite happens and I start to focus on it with obsessive intent. Much better if I think, “I can eat whatever I want, but first I must finish all these veggies!”
This year I’m also resolving to take a walk after as many meals as possible. I’m not going to do this 100% of the time, but as often as I can. Even a short ten-minute walk tells your body to burn those calories rather than store them.
The Catalyst: Law of Attraction — Energy Flows Where Attention Goes
The Law of Attraction operates on the principle that like attracts like. The energy you send out into the universe comes back to you. Therefore, focusing on positive thoughts and emotions can magnetize happiness into your life. The reverse is also true; if you are mired in negative thoughts, you may find that you attract more negativity from those around you or unpleasant events.
Life Coaching Tip: Visualization and Gratitude
Think about your desires and goals. Daydreaming is an underrated activity so don’t feel guilty, do it more often. Then take the first step to making these dreams come true by creating a vision board or, as I mentioned in last week’s blog, a Future Scrapbook.
Congratulations! You’ve just turned a fairly amorphous thought into physical reality. This is actually a very powerful first step. Now, the next step is to charge this goal or desire with emotions. I want you to feel the emotions associated with achieving your intentions. Imagine this desired goal is true now. How do you feel about it? Are you elated? Would you be jumping for joy? Go ahead and jump for joy now to reinforce the positive feelings around this goal. Woohoo! This is how you program your brain to attract what you want.
Next, you can increase the speed at which you attract what you want by adding a daily gratitude practice to amplify those positive vibrations.
I’ve witnessed clients experience remarkable shifts by incorporating daily visualizations and gratitude into their routines. One client, struggling with career dissatisfaction, attracted a dream job by consistently visualizing herself thriving in her ideal work environment. She printed images of what her new office would look like, surrounded by colleagues who were engaged and enthusiastic, giving her brain a visual focus.
The Power of Positive Language: Shaping Your Reality
Your choice of words is more than just a means of communication; it shapes your thoughts, influences your emotions, and creates your reality. When setting intentions, using positive language is a game-changer that can elevate your mindset and propel you toward success.
Life Coaching Tip: Affirmations as Catalysts
Incorporate positive affirmations into your goal-setting routine. Affirmations are concise, positive statements that declare specific outcomes as if they are already happening. By repeating these affirmations, you reinforce positive beliefs and attract corresponding energy.
I had a client struggling with self-confidence. By introducing daily affirmations like “I am capable, confident, and worthy of success,” he gradually transformed his mindset and began to approach challenges with greater self-assurance. (Notice the key to this affirmation is the use of the words, “I am…”. An affirmation only works if 100% positive so make sure you double-check to eliminate any negative words.)
Framing Goals as Opportunities
The language used to articulate your goals can shift your perspective from challenges to opportunities. Instead of framing goals as burdens or obligations, express them as exciting prospects for growth and self-discovery.
Life Coaching Tip: Rephrase Challenges as Opportunities
When faced with a daunting goal, rephrase it to emphasize the positive aspects. For instance, instead of saying, “I have to overcome this obstacle,” say, “I have the opportunity to learn and grow from this experience.”
One of my clients reframed a career setback as an opportunity to explore new possibilities. This shift in language not only reduced stress but also opened doors to unexpected and fulfilling career paths.
Embracing Solution-Oriented Language
Positive language extends beyond mere optimism; it encompasses a solution-oriented mindset. Instead of dwelling on problems, focus on solutions. Use language that implies active engagement and the belief that solutions are within reach.
Life Coaching Tip: Use Solution-Focused Statements
Replace statements that highlight obstacles with those that emphasize solutions. For example, shift from “I don’t know how to overcome this” to “I am exploring different ways to address and overcome this challenge.”
The Happiness Equation is your own unique formula for success and happiness. Remember that your intentions are the seeds, and the Law of Attraction is the cosmic gardener. Nurture your goals with positivity, let your values be your guiding stars, and watch the magic unfold. Life’s challenges may seem like storms, but with resilience and a sprinkle of positivity, you’ll dance in the rain and emerge stronger.
So, here’s to your best year yet—filled with joy, growth, and all the good vibes the universe has to offer!
P.S. If you want a little coaching support throughout the year, it’s not too late to register for Coach Yourself to Success online. Get the support you need to make this your best year ever!
