Goals vs. Intentions

Hi, welcome back to your Daily Mindfulness. In today's episode, we're going to talk about the difference between goals and intentions and how each can help you in crafting your life. So first, goals are result-oriented. Intentions are process-oriented. Goals tend to be external achievements.

Intentions tend to be internal commitments. Goals help us move toward a compelling future. Intentions help us move toward a compelling present. So we'll look at each of those a little more closely. So the first one goals are result-oriented, intensions are process-oriented.

When we think about goals, we often think of things we're working toward in the future. A certain amount of money, a job we want to land, or even setting a new, low golf score. It's a result we can clearly see. We'll know when we'll have attain, attained it. And the mission is not accomplished until that goal is met.

Intentions are more process-oriented. I'm going to make the intention to be kinder today, to be more present, to be a better listener. These are process-oriented because they inform how we show up. Our ability to meet an intention is less about getting to some end point and more about embodying that intention in real time. It's an ongoing practice.

Next, goals tend to be external achievements and intentions tend to be internal commitments. And I say "tend to be" because there is some gray area here, depending on how you might define goals versus intentions. But in general, a goal seems to be something we're working toward outside of us, intentions tend to be something we're working toward from the inside out. It's an internal commitment to a particular way of being and showing up in our lives. And to this end, goals help us move toward a compelling future, intentions help us move toward a compelling present.

When we have a goal where using imagination, creativity and dreaming up how our lives could look. And having that end point organizes our attention and energy toward a compelling future. Intentions inform a more immediate way of being. And can be met more immediately by offering us a map for how to show up in the present moment. A way of being that we want to infuse into our present life.

Having both goals and intentions are essential to growth and wellbeing. And incorporating the combination of the two into your life can help you both enjoy the destination and the journey along the way. So take from this what you think might be helpful. Are you someone who focuses more on goals or more on intentions? And what would it be like to add more of the other into your life? I'll talk to you in the meditation. Thank you for your practice and take care.