Intentional Goal Setting
Over the years I’ve learned to make goals juicy. Creating a strong why behind them makes them even more meaningful to achieve. In the past, I’d seek achievements logically. Now, I go deep into the feeling behind the goal, to move uniquely on my path and expand in the ways I desire.
One of my summer 2022 goals was to sleep in past 10:30 am. This goal would make no sense to a lot of people, but to me, it symbolized relaxation, pleasure, letting go of control and being perfect. I wanted to have a luxurious sleep, and not wake up feeling anxious, or stressed about the million things I had to do.
I made some serious attempts, getting close three different times, so I crossed it off my list and considered it as done as it could be. Flash forward to 2023, where I’ve been feeling like I didn’t grow or shift as much in my life as I would have liked. From the outside, especially compared to previous years, it doesn’t look like my life has changed that much. The cool thing about working towards intentional, soul-fulfilling goals, is that they sneak up on in you a beautiful way.
In April, I did something very unlike my former self, and booked a trip to Miami for my bestie’s bachelorette. If you’re familiar with my story, you’ll know that I didn’t work for a few years due to mental illness after a near-death experience. While it was challenging emotionally, the harder part was getting over my poverty mindset after living off of Ontario’s disability support program and having to do without a lot of life’s luxuries, let alone basic needs.
The trip to Miami so was nourishing and expansive, that I immediately said yes when a friend asked me to do another Florida trip, just months later, to stay at the Four Seasons. Old me told her in the past that trips were too expensive, but 2023 Paulina knew I could make it happen.
On Saturday night, we took an Uber into Miami, met some cool new people, and had a wild night, only getting home 4 am (my normal bedtime is 9:30 pm!). Instead of calling it a night (or morning), we ordered room service, which they set up on the balcony overlooking the ocean, and got to rehash the night, like you’d do in university when you had the privilege of living with your besties.
I woke up the next morning feeling so filled up, alive and joyful. When I checked my phone, I immediately started to cry. It was 11:20 am. With ease and pleasure, I achieved my once hard to attain goal, and it was only because I leaned into joy and freedom and partied my ass off in Miami.
I felt so proud of myself crying in my robe, sipping a coffee after a whirlwind once-in-a-lifetime night. If I didn’t say “hell yes” to the first Miami trip, and didn’t discover my new favourite city and the gratification of a trip “just for funzies”, I never would have stepped past my limiting beliefs around what was possible for me in this lifetime.
Now I can see just how powerful the actions I’ve taken in the last year have been on my life. When you’re setting goals, always go back to the why, and leave yourself a little room for magic in the way it comes into your life. Trust that your unique goals are perfect for you, and be prepared for the Universe to surprise you with what comes.