This year, I am doing something different. Setting intentions is nothing new or ground breaking. But for me, it is. This is the first time I am actually setting my intentions. I know that I will be more likely to actively work on it and follow through if I publish it. So here it is. I am sharing with you my 2020 Intentions. And I hope you will share yours, too.

I consider my 2019 just my research and preparation for 2020. And it went pretty good and I learned quite a lot. It is my first time to start a year with clear intentions and I think it will make a big difference.

My 2020 Intentions

Here is a summary of my 2020 Intentions:

• Be HEALTHY
• Offer VALUE.
• Be SINCERE.
• ADVOCATE.

Read on to know what these intentions mean to me and how I plan to put these to action.

Why Set Intentions?

First off, I want to share why I am doing things differently this year.

Every year, I get consumed with goals. My mentees and basically everyone who has worked with me know how obsessed I am with establishing SMART goals. Last year, I set out to accomplish goals instead of resolutions. And while I was not 100% successful in achieving everything, I was able to achieve a lot. I find that it helps me when I am pedantic and specific about targets and goals. So having SMART goals helps me a lot. And what helps me even more is publishing things and putting it out there in the world.

As I was listing down this year’s goals and researching about things, I stumbled upon “intentions.” And me being me, I just had to learn more before I set my own 2020 Intentions.

“Intention” comes from the old English word “entencioun” which means “purpose, design, aim or object; will, wish, desire, that which is intended.” (Source: https://www.etymonline.com/word/intention)

Today, “intention” is a noun that means something that you want and plan to do; an aim. (Cambridge Dictionary)

Upon research, I realized that I have always had specific and clear intentions. But it was only specific and clear to me. And for many years, it went without being processed and lived only in my head. So for many years, I have had intentions, but never really worked actively on them.

So this year, I want to move forward with my intentions, clear to me and to others. That I may be more consistent, more driven to act on it, and that others may also remind me to keep true to my intentions.

Intentions Guide Goals

One of the things I have also learned while researching about intentions is how it should guide goals. Resolutions is for resolving problems. You think you’re fat, get thin. Feeling bored, travel more. These are just some of the resolutions a lot of us set out at the start of the year. There is nothing wrong with these but it sounds and feels more reactive than anything else.

On the other hand, intentions say what we want to achieve and where we want to go. Proactive. Positive. Actionable.

Intentions set the mind to achieve something and can easily be broken down into SMART goals that are so much easier to keep track of and achieve. So below each intention, I have also listed down some of the SMART goals for 2020.

Be HEALTHY.

Most, if not all, of my 2020 Intentions are intentions I have had for some time now. The first one, however, is an intention I have only really become serious and committed with in 2019.

I began 2019 with a serious commitment to lose weight. It started out as a vanity thing. I want to look better, wear better clothes, and yes, have better photos. I began the #Project55 hashtag so many years ago but I was never really consistent with it.

In 2019, I made the big leap and consciously worked on a better diet and more consistent with exercise. I started cooking again. Avoided fastfood and food deliveries. Ate less rice. Consumed more fruits and vegetables, etc. I worked out more than I ever did cumulatively in entire adult life. I did yoga. Planked. Did lunges, squats, and more.

And more importantly, I took care of my mental health. No explanations needed. I just did.

Over time, I realised that there is really more than just looking and feeling good when you are healthy. It gives me more energy and makes me more confident in everything. I became more introspective, more mindful, and all in all a better person.

SMART Goals to be HEALTHY this 2020:

This 2020, I intend to be HEALTHY. Eat better. Exercise more. Meditate. Read. Take care of my body and mind that I may enjoy life more.

• Have an Executive Checkup at least once this year by August 2020.
• Exercise for at least 5 minutes at least 5 times a week.
• Meditate for at least 10 minutes at least 2x a week.
• Read a page of a book every night.

Offer VALUE.

People think what I do is easy. Truth is… a lot of work goes into everything I publish, submit, and everything I put out there into the world. There are times, however, when procrastination and mediocrity got the better of me.

I basically wrote down and decided to have this 2020 intention to guide my work and professional dealings. This 2020, I hope to be more consistent with working hard. Always Offer VALUE to the people I work with and work for, to my readers and my audience, and even to myself. Nothing will go out without proper research, brainstorming, editing and proofreading, and careful consideration.

This also applies to my personal relationships and to my community. My intentions may seem specific to one area of my life and being, but each one is part and parcel of who I am and everything I do. So this intention and everything one in this list will be deliberate in everything I do.

SMART Goals to offer VALUE this 2020:

This 2020, I intend to offer VALUE. Learn more. Research. Work harder.

• Watch or attend at least one workshop, class, or networking opportunity every month.
• Create Monthly Content Plans every 15th of the succeeding month.
• Publish 100% of planned blog content and at least 80% of scheduled social media content.
• Host at least 2 learning, networking, or business opportunity events this year.

Be SINCERE.

One of the things I really withdrew from in 2019 is socialization. I said no to lot of events, both for work and in my personal life. Not because I did not like people, but I felt like I needed more time with myself.

Among my 2020 Intentions, this is the one I struggled with the most. How do I continue choosing myself without offending or hurting others. And I realized that the key to making things easier for all is just to be straightforward, honest, and clear each and every time.

I intend to be SINCERE in everything. In saying yes and in saying no. By choosing only the work, events, and topics I am only passionate and care about. Assert my thoughts, ideas, and opinion when it matters and not only when it is easy and convenient.

SMART Goals to be SINCERE this 2020:

This 2020, I intend to be SINCERE. This is quite difficult to be specific and have deadlines for but there are concrete things I could certainly do:

• Work only with brands and products I truly care for and love.
• Send feedback and provide constructive criticism after every project, review, or event.
• Give a thoughtful gift or surprise to at least one person who really matter to me every month.
• Update gratitude journal everyday and acknowledge people who contributed to my happiness.

ADVOCATE.

Not a lot of people know or would think I started as a political blogger. Not because I had a degree in political science or was a trained pundit. I just really cared too much but also did not care if there was any backlash or whatever.

Along the way, I felt like my voice just did not matter any more and it was just too stressful and difficult. Last year, I found myself caring more. Liking, retweeting, and engaging more about select topics and issues I truly cared for: LGBTQ+ rights, anti-rape culture, sustainability, Mindanao arts and culture, and most of all, mental health.

I do care. And as somebody who has some amount of clout and a platform online, I realized I could certainly do more to contribute to the cause I truly cared for.

SMART Goals to ADVOCATE this 2020:

This 2020, I intend to ADVOCATE.

• Research and publish at least one blog post or video about each of the following: Sustainability, LGBTQ+ rights, and Mental Health.
• Watch, support, and promote local films, series, blogs, videos, and other arts that advocate or tackle these issues.
• Work to grow the Mindanao Bloggers community via the Mindanao Blog Awards and the Mindanao Bloggers Page.

More About 2020 Intentions and Goals

I have read somewhere that a good number of intentions to keep and work on is 4. Hence, I have 4 main ones here. Each one tackling a specific part of me and my life: Body and Mind, Work, Relationships, and Community.

Each intention is carefully worded, thought out, and researched to make sure it reflects what I truly want to say, do, and accomplish. These four are intentions I have always carried but never articulated and have barely really actively worked on. I arrived at these by examining myself and my life, how my 2019 has been and my successes and gains in the past.

The goals listed here are just some of my extensive list of SMART goals that I have listed and keep in my journal and in my laptop. Ideally, the objective is to achieve 100% of my all my goals. In reality, I would probably achieve at least 80% and would consider myself successful if I achieve at least 50% of that exhaustive list.

Having intentions keeps me on track. And even when I have not achieved 100% I would be happy and fulfilled, for as long as I keep true to my intentions. Being 100% consistent with my 2020 intentions would make me a 100% better, happier person. But life happens. Things change. Priorities get jumbled. And everything can go crazy as soon as tomorrow.

At the end of the day, I know I will be satisfied in the knowledge that I have my intentions clear to me and that I will do my best to keep them in mind everyday until December 31.

Be healthy is my number one intention for a good reason. My health will come before everything else. So yes, I will be listening to my mind and body more this year. When it tells me to rest and take time off, I will.

My 2020 power word is THRIVE and my life long mission is a stronger and better self. The intentions and goals are just my means to get there. So here’s to staying to true our intentions, achieving our goals, and getting better and stronger each day.

I would love to know your 2020 intentions. Share your in the comments section. And if there is anything here you are interested in or would love to work on with me, drop me a line.

Onwards to a better and stronger self.

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