With the holidays behind us and each day bringing a bit more light, now is a good time to contemplate intentions for the New Year. This is different from the tradition of making resolutions, which tend to be firm, fixed goals we set, promising to do or not do something, often the same ones each year. An intention, on the other hand, is your purpose, where you choose to direct your attention. Your intention shapes the nature of your action.

Here is an example. Let’s say I have a tendency to have critical thoughts and feelings toward myself and others. My resolution might be “Every day, I will say at least one positive thing to myself and others.” My intention though would be more like this: “As I go through my day, may I be sensitive, kind, and compassionate to myself and others.”  The resolution is an expectation while the intention allows for possibilities. It is fluid and flexible, recognizing that we are human and need to roll with the waves that life inevitably brings.

Wishing you all things good in 2018,

The Autism Blog Team