Yay, I'm so excited about winning! Thank you lovely ladies for the fabulous giveaway! My hope with this gratitude journal is to realign myself with peace...my brother passed away in 2009 so I think I will need this for 2010 to get a better kind of energy out of this year. Thank you so much.

To me a resolution and an intention are both the same because they are both a resolve: Something one wants to deals with successfully. A determination to act in a certain way.

A goal is defined as, "the end toward which effort is directed."

So a resolution and an intention are both resolves. A goal is often set to meet that resolve so one can be successful.

The problem is, we sometimes do not make our goals and then the feeling of failure sets in. How to avoid this? I believe in small steps. Instead of making a goal to lose 30 pounds, make it a goal to lose 10. That is attainable and once you reach it, you can set another goal to lose 5 more. Then go from there. But the time you've lost 15 pounds, you are halfway there and now 30 doesn't seem so big and so scary.

Fun dialogue girls!

@Kristina - Congrats! We hope the journal starts off 2010 on a positive foot (a positive foot? Does that make sense?) for you. So glad you won!

@Holly - Ya know, Carolyn always says that we need to bring the dictionary into our shoots so we can get a "real" definition of each of the words we're talking about. After reading what you wrote about "goals" I'm convinced we need to implement this! And YES, giving yourself small (achievable!) goals that lead up to The Big Goal is really key, as is the celebration (aka bribing yourself) along the way! I've had major trouble "enjoying the journey" & that's what I enthuse both my clients & myself with. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Such a great point, Holly. I think the idea of intentions is softer, and more manageable, as you suggest in taking baby steps towards goals. Resolutions in our society I feel tend to be harsh and perfectionistic, and therefore prefer to think about intentions. But in the end, they are all the same. We just use words to define and reflect different meanings for each of us individually.

It's so great to see you girls back for the New Year. What an interesting video...and i cant wait to see part 2!

I'm barely into the video, but Jess --your comment about intentions helping you to be your best self RIGHT NOW is a great point. It's a REALLY great way to stay focused and centered on what your intention is. It helps you, in the moment, to remember the actions you can take to make you your best self. For instance, even if you apply this to a common resolution--losing weight--it can really help you be successful. I'm thinking of this in terms of eating healthy day to day: I chose to eat well and nourish myself today because it helps me to be my best--not because I will be skinny and perfect in the future.

You touched on something very important--being PRESENT in the moment and PRESENT every day. By using intentions to help us focus on our best selves in each moment, we become the person we want to be every day and in the long run!

P.S. Also wrote my letter to myself yesterday and it made me so excited that I got goosebumps. SUCH a great idea & it's made me so energized!

What's important, it seems, is not the words we use, but how we define them and how we put them into play. I, too, choose words for the year (this year I have three). I refer to them as my intentions for the year. I think of them as guiding principles. My goals are meant to help me incorporate these qualities into my life. For example,one of my words is "serenity." For me, serenity is very closely related both to my physical and mental well-being, so one of my goals for this year is to develop a yoga practice. I have actions -- signing up for a specific program, etc. -- that are meant to help me achieve that goal. The goal itself is in the service of helping me to bring more serenity into my life.

This year, I plan to create a sort of poster, using one of my own photographs, focusing on my three words. I'll put it in a prominent place where I can't miss it. I also have one slim notebook where my intention words and my goals and actions are written. When I plan for the week -- the typical 'to do' list -- I include items from my goals/actions that will help me to move those forward. and I love the idea you shared of writing my words at the top of each day's 'to do' list as a regular reminder of my intentions.

Thanks for this series. I'm enjoying hearing varied perspectives on an issue. And Jess's Goals and Intentions kit looks terrific. I'm keeping fingers and toes crossed...

Oh my gosh I won!!!! This is way too exciting! Thank you ladies!

Great episode ladies! ♥

This site is really neat. Last year I began posing yearly themewords to help me get motivated. It makes it harder to "fail" because nothing is set in stone. Last year my themeword was simplify. This year it's perspective.

Hey ladies! I'm loving the video thus far; this is the perfect topic to get us energized and refocused on a new year. This year I've found myself making resolutions/goals, all under one bigger, overriding intention: to live simply and deliberately. Each of my resolutions (whether they have to do with my home, my spiritual life, or my marriage) must lead to a life that is simple and deliberate in nature. In addition, I came across this article the other day that I really think you guys will appreciate; it's all about goals as part of a personal narrative: http://donmilleris.com/2010/01/01/living-a-good-story-an-alternative-to-new-years-resolutions/.

I think the idea is genius! I've applied narrative to a couple of my resolutions, and already I'm more inspired and eager to achieve the goals I've set. Just some extra food for thought as you guys continue your discussion!

I'm loving the discourse taking place here! Kudos!

I love Jessica's stuff! :) Great site too, ladies. Good job :)

I think from now on I need to start working on my comment before the video ends because after I take it all in there's a lot of food for thought to digest. I know that I'm not quite ready to write that letter to myself and I find it really brave that Jess LC was able to put all that down on paper even though she did not think it possible for any of it to come true. This is the first year where I know I must write out my goals and then break them down into action items so that I can see what is necessary to achieve those goals. Until now I've just had these far reaching goals in my head with no defined path for how I would achieve them. Then another year passes and I wonder why not much as changed. I'm trying not to put too much pressure on myself to make huge life changes in just one year but if I can have my goals mapped out on paper with a tangible plan that I can begin to work on I feel pretty good about this accomplishment. Perhaps once I have this all mapped out I will feel differently about writing that letter.

P.S. If I don't win one of the goals and intentions sets I'm sooo buying one anyone, I love it!

I just thought of something else that relates somewhat to goals and intentions. Don't think of this as lame but I like to think that there is a soundtrack to my life and choose songs that I think portray who I'd like to become. This year's theme song is Unwritten by Natasha Beddingfield. I don't mind that it's also the theme song for the Hills, every time I hear it it's gets be pumped and reminds me that my story is still evolving and the future is yet to written.

What a fantastic and inspiring video. I can't wait to write my letter! Keep up the great work, ladies.

Thanks to everyone who's commented! We just love that you're loving the videos as much as we love making them, & we love hearing how you're implementing your goals/resolutions/intentions for the year to come. There's just a lotta love here, people.

I also wanted to let you guys know that I'm crazy & posted my letter for the world to see on my blog. Hope it helps anyone that has written, or has yet to write The Letter To Their Future Self! http://whenigrowupcoach.com/blog/2010/01/06/dear-future-me/

Look for our free downloads available later today!

You ladies rock. Not only have your last two episodes gotten me on the path of setting my intentions and being more grateful, but I really see each of these things as a necessary step to make 2010 way more kickass than 2009 (can I say kickass?). In her letter, Michelle talks about a Spring weekend and what it would mean to connect with her tribe--I realize that feeling is really missing in my life. I'm doing more this year to appreciate the supporters I already have (I sent one of them a gratitude letter last week, in fact!), but also to expand my circle and seek out my tribe.

Also, I literally laughed out loud when Carolyn explained she was taking notes--because I was doing so, too (see!).

I just love what you're doing!

I love that you talked about "Intentions" because even before I found the four of you I had set my 'intentions' for 2010. I used that word purposefully because resolutions tend to last until my next big excuse. My intention for 2010 is to be more creative. Having said that I then created a list of goals focused around areas of my creative business that I want to improve. Is there a term bigger than all of these? My [insert said term here] is to be a full time artist and designer. Anyway...after I had high level goals I then proceeded to write five pages of actionable tasks that would lead me to be successful in each goal and then by extension, successful in my endeavor to be a full time creative.

So there you have it. I love the interaction you share on the videos. It's like I'm listening in on a cool conversation that's going on at the table next to me.

Peace!

Thank you for all the fantastic comments, everyone!

@Denton: SO glad you're here! That's awesome that you're so dedicated to your intention setting. YES!

@Michelle: having a soundtrack is SO NOT LAME!

@Angelique: I love that you posted your notes on flickr! So inspiring. :)

You all are inspiring ME- thank you!

I am so excited abut this video blog!!! Just the word resolution makes me CRINGE! But having intentions and goals that can be re-worked or adjusted through the year is just GREAT! It makes my goals seem much more manageable. I am going to write the letter to myself also. I am really, really hard on myself and the letter will help to remind me of all the things that I have accomplished instead of the things that I haven't. I usually reflect on those at the end of the year and at the beginning of the New Year. I am very grateful for the tips on goal setting.
THANKS,
Lisa

Thanks so much for the great video, ladies. So glad I finally go to watch it! I can't wait to watch part 2. You all inspire me!

Is it too late? I watched part 2 before part 1 but I still managed to put it all together! :) Thank you so much for these lessons, I need the guidance!

This is really great what y'all are doing, very interesting and what a wonderful pool of women! I feel like this is establishing a support group unlike what I've seen online!