The Difference Between Goals & Intentions… & Why It Matters

If you have made attempts to improve or change your life but often feel as though you just end up going round in circles, it can be helpful to spend some time thinking about your intentions. This is often mistaken for setting goals to achieve particular aims such as getting fit or changing your job. 

However, there’s a difference between intentions and goals, and understanding what they are could be the key to finally unlocking your full potential and finding your true purpose in life. Here’s a look at how intentions can help you achieve the life that you want. For more detailed and tailored guidance, you may wish to consider working with a personal life trainer.

Goals Vs. intentions

Goals are future-based aims, such as making a certain amount of money, moving house, or finding a new job. Goals have their place in life; they can clarify our ideas and give us the momentum to keep moving forward. 

They are particularly effective when they have a specific measurable outcome: for example, rather than just aiming to lose weight, we set a goal of losing six pounds in six months or so forth. If we set vague or unrealistic goals, such as deciding to run a marathon, chances are we will soon become discouraged or overwhelmed, and the goal will fall by the wayside. 

Intentions, on the other hand, focus on the present moment. They are more about your mental and emotional state during a particular situation or stage in your life, rather than a target that you are working toward. You can set intentions before a particular event or activity, or just first thing in the morning to shape how your day will unfold.

For example, you can set the intention of eating your dinner in a more mindful manner. This may mean taking the time to present your food attractively on the plate, laying out a table with a cloth and candles and playing ambient music, and savouring the aromas, textures and flavours of the food as you eat. 

Ultimately, this may align with your goal of losing weight because you eat more slowly and are able to understand more clearly when you are full. However, your intention to eat mindfully is part of the journey; weight loss may or may not be a result. 

Intentions can help us to feel more in touch with our emotions and bring us closer to the life we truly want to lead, rather than the life we feel is expected of us, or that we feel would impress others. Life is short and most people think about us much less than we imagine, so goals can sometimes be misguided. 

Intentions and goals can also work together: by using intentions to focus on the quality of your journey towards a goal, you will still have an enriching experience whether you ultimately achieve your goals or not, which will make you a mentally, emotionally and spiritually more resilient person.