Make an Intentional Start in 2025
As we cross the threshold into a new year, a sense of anticipation lingers in the air, a quiet excitement that whispers of new possibilities. It’s the perfect time to reset, reflect, and set the tone for the months ahead. For me, as both a meditation and yoga teacher, the new year isn’t about making resolutions; it’s about setting intentions that align with my true self—body, mind, and spirit.
It took me years to learn that wellness isn’t just something we do—it’s a way of being. It’s not just a physical state or a mental goal, but a deep connection that requires nurturing. In my own life, I’ve come to recognize that when I take the time to cultivate my well-being, everything else falls into place more easily.
Setting intentions for the year ahead has become a beautiful practice I use to support my well-being and guide me toward a more purposeful, balanced life. Through yoga and meditation, I’ve learned how to listen to my body and my heart to discover what truly matters, leaving behind distractions and doubt.
In this article, I share my personal process (my secret sauce) to help you set meaningful intentions for 2025, align with your deepest desires and make this year one of growth, healing, and fulfillment. Let’s embark on this journey together, with a clear mind and an open heart.
What Does It Mean to Set Intentions?
Setting intentions is often misunderstood as simply making goals or resolutions. While goals are specific targets we strive to reach, intentions are the guiding principles, the deeper energy we bring into everything we do. Intentions are about aligning your actions, thoughts, and feelings with the bigger picture of who you are and what you want to create in your life.
Think of intentions as the "why" behind your goals. For example, a goal might be to exercise more this year, but the intention behind it could be to cultivate vitality, energy, and self-love through movement. The intention is the energy you bring to your daily choices, the mindset you cultivate, and the overall feeling you want to nurture throughout the year.
Intentions also allow room for flexibility. Unlike specific goals that may come with deadlines or a sense of pressure, intentions are about living in harmony with the present moment. They can shift and evolve as you grow, without the need for harsh judgment or perfection. Setting an intention is less about a fixed outcome and more about how you show up in the world, moment to moment, with an open heart and an authentic spirit.
For example, my 2023 intention was “Nourish, Nurture, Empower”; an intention that created a lot of room to care for myself in many ways. I could have set a goal of cooking dinner at home 5 nights a week, which would have been a failure. Instead, I look back on that year as a great success - I cooked more often, I made healthier choices when I ate out, I quit my job and started my business to name a few personal wins.
My Intention Setting Secret Sauce
While I don’t think there is a right or wrong way to set intentions, I have found a mix of practices help me feel connected to my inner wisdom and clarity, tapping into what feels true for me. This is where intentions begin—by tuning in and listening to what we truly need to thrive. I share those practices here with a huge recommendation to explore the things that feel good and work best for you.
Clear the clutter: I find I focus best when the space I am in is tidy. It doesn’t have to be spotless, but I like things to be put away. If you find clutter distracting, then take time to clear it out. If this seems like a daunting task (hello, living with children), then consider where you are wanting to be for this practice. Maybe there is a large closet, a bathroom, or a spot on your porch where you could sit instead?
Connect with ritual: When I am ready to get started, I put on music - I prefer music with no words - and light incense. Smell is a powerful sense that connects us to memories and can be a way to signal to our minds that it is time for something special. Pick your favorite incense or candle and use it regularly for special moments to train your brain. I am always amazed how the smell of Nag Champa incense takes me back to the very first studio where I practiced yoga!
Move the body: Sometimes the space is ready, but my mind and body are not ready to be still. I find that a brief yoga practice or dancing help move excess energy out of my body.
Write it out: When I feel complete with my movement practice, I sit with my journal or a piece of paper and free write what I want over the next year. This is stream of consciousness writing and can be specific goals, it can be how I want to feel mentally, physically, or emotionally, it can be experiences that I want to have…nothing is off-limits and no particular format is required. Paragraphs, bulleted lists, mind maps - it’s all good!
Distill it down: Once I’ve written all the things that want to come out, I review my writing and look for themes that tie various items together. I write these themes as single words or short phrases, then find what best summarizes either the majority of what I’ve written, or what I consider to be the most important. In addition to “Nourish, Nurture, Empower”, some of my recent annual intentions have been “Finding my voice” and “Expand with ease”.
Give yourself grace: Remember that this isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Find what works best for you.
By setting clear, meaningful intentions, we create the space for our desires to manifest naturally. It’s not about forcing outcomes but about aligning with our inner truth and allowing our energy to flow in ways that feel authentic and fulfilling.
I would love to hear your intentions for 2025!
