Welcome to the latest episode of Igniting Your Dynamic Self with Wendy Bjork. As an international bestselling author, inspirational speaker and founder of heartsofwellness.com, her mission is to uncover ancient knowledge so women may take charge of their health holistically to feel confident, have clarity and be inspired to live with joy and simplicity.
For many of us, the midway point of the year is a time to reflect and renew. One of the best ways to do this is by setting intentions—which, according to experts, are a powerful tool for bringing your goals and values to life. Whether it’s to make healthy lifestyle changes, create more balance in your day-to-day or strengthen your spiritual practice, intentions help guide and support you on your journey. We spoke to a few experts to get their perspective on why it’s important to set intentions, how they add meaning and value to your daily lives, and tips for making intentions a habit.
What Is An Intention?
An intention is a statement of purpose—a way to show up for yourself and the world that you will commit to showing up fully. An intention is simply a goal that’s driven by your own values and needs rather than someone else’s expectations of you.
Setting an intention can be as simple as deciding you want to honor your body’s health needs by choosing to take time to meditate and stretch each day, or as complex as deciding to spend more quality time with your family. Intentions can be about any action you take, but it’s important to be specific and include the feeling you want to experience after completing your intention.
Setting an intention is a form of mindfulness, and it can be done at any time of the day or year for that matter. To start, “make sure you’re in a place where you can relax and focus on the process,” advises Steffanie Stecker, psychologist and owner of Mountain Vista Psychology. This could be in a yoga studio or at home on the couch with a cup of tea and a good book.
Once you’re in a space to relax, begin by thinking about the intention you want to set that day. Then, write it down and review it regularly so you can remind yourself of its importance. It’s also helpful to put your intentions somewhere you can see them often, such as on your bathroom mirror or computer monitor.
In addition to writing your intention down, you can also use other mindfulness techniques like breathwork or meditation to reinforce your intentions throughout the day. Using a daily mindfulness practice is one of the most effective ways to ensure that you will stick to your intentions because it helps you to become more aware of what is happening in your own mind and body, and how those thoughts may be negatively impacting your ability to follow through with your intention.
What Does The Moon Have To Do With Intentions?
The Dark Moon and New Moon are two phases that happen to coincide within a lunar cycle. Both offer their own unique energy and a time for you to set intentions for your month ahead.
During the Dark Moon, which happens during the waning crescent phase right before the New Moon, you’re encouraged to let go of what has been and what is no longer serving you. This is a time to process and cleanse your mental, physical, and emotional body.
Dark Moon rituals often involve releasing and clearing, making it an ideal time for a purifying bath or spending time in nature, shadow work, or even some simple journaling. We know that it can feel like a crazy time of the month with all this processing and letting go, but really try to just be kind to yourself. This is a great time to rest and get some extra sleep, as most people will be feeling exhausted and rundown at this point of the month.
The New Moon, which is the sliver of the waxing crescent moon you can see in the sky, is also an incredibly important time to pause and reflect on your current situation. It is a time to write out your intentions, manifestations, and goals for the next moon cycle and what you want to create in your life going forward. It is a very powerful exercise to ask yourself what you need to shift in your life and what are the intentions that will support you in moving towards this.
At the new moon, we’re in the middle of a brand-new lunar cycle. It’s a moment to reset your intentions and goals and move towards a perspective of optimism and excitement for all the possibilities you have ahead of you.
When can I observe the New Moon?
The New Moon occurs at the exact moment when the moon moves from its dark phase into its new, or void, phase. The void phase lasts for one to three days, and it is a beautiful opportunity to connect with the lunar energies of peace and receptivity.
During this time of the month, you may notice that it feels darker and colder than usual, with people gravitating more to their home and opting for staying in over heading out for a night on the town. You might find yourself sleeping more soundly and having more vivid dreams (maybe featuring your high school crush that you haven’t seen in years). This is all due to the powerful energies of this time of the month, which is why it’s so incredibly important to listen and be present.
People have looked to the Moon for guidance for over 200,000 years, if you’d like to explore my article on the Moon and Easter, click here: How the Moon Affects Easter .
To support you on this path of expanding your vision for your life, you may download your copy of the 30-Day Journal + Blueprint Bundle Towards Living Your Best Life at heartsofwellness.com/you.
This will support you by taking small steps daily towards a better view of yourself with improved self talk, writing your weekly goals and celebrating your weekly wins. Discovering and living by your personalized playbook are important steps we can create together!
If you feel a self-paced approach with Wendy’s support would be helpful in reaching your goals, you can head over to the Hearts of Wellness Membership Collective and begin your journey back to simplicity, freedom and wholeness!
As a pioneer in advocacy and mentorship, Wendy is leading a global revolution of women walking in purpose and peace as she illumines their path ahead with the light of HOPE: Harmony, Options, Peace & Empowerment.
Follow Wendy: heartsofwellness.com/newsletter
Connect with her through social media:
Twitter/X: @bjork_ms
FB page: Wendy Bjork Hearts of Wellness
YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@wendybjork
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendybjork
Instagram: @theempressofms
Check out more lifestyle stories here.
