Your Guide to Setting Intentions

You’ve probably heard the phrase “set your intention” before, and you’ve probably set intentions without even realizing it. 

When you start the car and decide to go to the store – you’re setting an intention to go there (you’re just not necessarily being INTENTIONAL about it!).

The practice and act of intention setting, when done with positive intention and emotion, can be extremely powerful in creating the health and life you desire.

What the hell is “setting intentions” anyway? Depending on what source you look up, an intention is defined as an aim, purpose, or guiding principle for how you want to be, live, or show up – related to anything, situation, relationship, work.

Intentions are about being, not just doing, which is one of the reasons they’re so powerful.

They’re are also about deciding how you want to FEEL – and this element of setting intentions is important.

When you envision how you’re going to FEEL about something or as some version of yourself you’re creating, you also create a powerful energetic frequency and vibration.

You start to actually emit that powerful energetic frequency into the Universe like an antennae – and the Universe responds back with that same frequency.

It’s amazing what happens when you start using the power of setting intentions.

You can set intentions before you sleep, when you wake up, or carve out a specific time of day.

Honestly – you can set intentions in the car while you’re sitting in traffic. It’s lovely to have a sacred space, altar, or corner of your room where you meditate and set intentions – but anyone that says it’s necessary is lying to you.

Full and new moons, as seasons change, or certain times in your monthly cycle are powerful times for setting intentions. You’re a cosmic, bioelectric mechanical being – so when you’re setting intentions in alignment with your own cycle or the cycles of nature and the moon – there is Source energy available to give you wisdom, guidance and support.

Start journaling your intentions – what you’re releasing, calling in – and look back as the cycles continue – you’ll be collecting little stories along your own journey about the incredible power you have to create the health and life you desire, along with the very intentional lessons you’re being taught through each experience and season.

If you go to any social media platform, you’re bound to see sayings about setting intentions or people encouraging you to come up with your own.

While both ways of setting intentions are valid… do you really know what it means or how to do it in a way that will actually produce results for you?

Setting intentions are more than just saying something and hoping it comes true. That’s just a wish.

Setting an intention is literally setting the foundation for your life, your health, your true goals, desires, dreams, and the path you want to travel.

Intentions help you pivot, change directions, re-orient and ground yourself. They gently force you to take accountability for your life and your choices so that you can step back into your own power.

By setting an intention, you are planting foundational seeds for the future. By planting these seeds, you’re taking the first step into the future you desire, the first step in your journey toward claiming vibrant health and well-being, the first step of TRANSFORMATION.

But there’s more to it than that. 

So how exactly do you set an intention?

First, think about what you truly desire to manifest in your life and how you’ll feel.

• Do you want to create lasting, vibrant health and well-being? What does that look and feel like?
• Do you want to feel better in your own skin and more confident in yourself? 
• Do you want to rid yourself of limiting beliefs that hold you back from being your true self?
• Do you want to completely transform your life and health – mind, body, and spirit?
• What would you like to let go of in your life?
• What fears would you like to release?
• What matters most to you?
• Who do you need to be to have the health and life you desire?

Any and all of these are great things to focus on. Just be clear, positive and keep it simple. Here are some examples to consider, or use these to create your own:

• “I will put my health and myself first as a non-negotiable priority.”
• “I love myself and will be gentle with myself.”
• “I release of the fear of not being good enough.”
• “I will transform my health.”
• “I will get out of my own way and release the habits that no longer serve me.”
• “I will find balance and peace.”

Remember, these are YOUR intentions— there is no right or wrong.

If it feels right for you, then it IS right for you!

Challenge yourself this week to start setting intentions regularly. It’s my goal to see you transform your health and life into the BEST version of yourself – so I’m going to start challenging you more – and please tell share your experience and questions in the comments!

When setting intentions there is nothing that is off-limits besides avoiding the negative. Your intentions can include:

• Goals
• Desires
• Dreams
• Allowing yourself to release, receive support, be vulnerable
• Embracing change
• Finding balance
• Aligning with your Higher Self and being a better version of yourself
• And more!

As long as your intention is genuine and includes your feelings, that’s what matters most. How will you feel once this intention has manifested? Who will you be? How will you act?

Remember to keep it clear, simple, and positive.

Simple

An intention that’s like a Harry Potter novel is less likely to be effective. It is either too complicated or too vague. This makes it challenging for Source energy to support you, and for you to support yourself. Set a simple intention – then the steps you need to take next will easily reveal themselves to you.

Clear

Be specific about your goal, what it looks like, what it feels like, and what outcomes you would like to see manifest. 

For example, are you trying to achieve a healing or health goal? Stating what you intend will help you focus energy toward that goal and will align with it. In addition, being as detailed and clear as possible will help you stay clear on WHO and HOW you need to be to bring your goal to life.

Positive

When setting intentions, avoid words such as “I won’t” or “I’ll stop” or “I want”. Instead, choose empowering and positive phrases such as “I will,” “I am,” “I have” or “I desire”. (PRO TIP: Start with “I’m grateful for…” and say thank you for your intention as if it’s already come true – and see what happens!).

When you know the intention you want to set, send it out into the universe. It’s powerful when you write it down.

You can concentrate on your intention while lighting a candle and playing soft music, scream it out into the Universe, or just simply jot it down in a journal, on a piece of paper tacked to your mirror, or try to revisit your intention daily or at least weekly.

While it’s challenging just to switch automatic thoughts on and off, try to work on ridding yourself of limiting beliefs. They can really hold you back from making progress on goals. 

If you’re not sure what beliefs or stories are standing in your way- then it’s time to figure them out.

If you keep telling yourself that you can’t, you won’t, or it’s not possible, it probably won’t end up happening because you’re telling yourself you can’t. Setting intentions starts with not just believing, but knowing, that you will create what you desire.

Being accountable and focusing on your intentions is about believing in yourself and doing the work to manifest change, health, self-love, success, and more.

Intentions act as energy accelerators, so the more positive energy you focus on your intention, the faster it will manifest! 

So are you ready to set your intention for the next stage and phase of your health and healing journey (or whatever goal you have in mind)?

Here are some examples of my favorite intentions to set:

• “Today, I plant the seeds for the health of my deepest desires.⁠”
• “My intention is to transform my health and well-being – mind, body, and spirit.⁠”
• “My intention is to transform myself today in whatever way serves me best.⁠”
• “My intention is to [FILL IN YOURS].⁠”
• “My health and I come first.⁠”
• “Every action I take is a step toward the vibrant health I desire.⁠”
• “I am my top priority.”⁠
• “I reclaim my power and my vibrant health and well-being.”
• “I live from balance and inner peace.”

Choose your intention, then close your eyes. Take a slow, deep breath in and pause.⁠ Focus on what your intention will be. Envision it and feel how it feels to be there.

Take a deep breath out, release all the air from your body and recite your intention aloud.

⁠Take another deep breath in and a deep breath out.⁠

You are non-negotiable – and so is your health. Setting it as your top priority will have a ripple effect on the health and lives of everything and everyone else around you. ⁠

No matter what time of year it is or what day of the month it is, TODAY and everyday is a fantastic chance to make a change and start your journey to heal from the inside out.⁠

Setting intentions so you can live a more mindful, present, purposeful, and vibrantly healthy life for yourself, your relationships, and the world you serve is a powerful practice I challenge you to start today!

Sending you so much healing energy,

XO,

Dr. Elizabeth