Do you just let life happen to you and hope for the best? Or, do you decide on a daily basis, or even better, on a moment-by-moment basis, what you want to experience?

Too many people just let life happen and then complain about the results. Setting intentions at the beginning of your day helps you get clear and focused about what you want to experience.

Your list of intentions goes beyond a to-do list (which is also good to have). Your intentions are about what you want to experience and how you want to show up that day. It's about setting the tone for the kind of day you want to see unfold.

To help you get started setting intentions, I have included the list of intentions I set for myself on a daily basis. I have also included some examples of specific intentions I set for the activities that vary from day-to-day and moment-to-moment.

Here is my list of daily intentions:

  • I intend to have fun today. (My number one, main intention every single day.)
  • I intend to laugh out loud and make others laugh out loud.
  • I intend to be acknowledged and appreciated and I intend to find others to acknowledge and appreciate today.
  • I intend to value and respect myself today. I intend to have others value and respect me. I intend to value and respect others today.
  • I intend to be open to giving and receiving today - giving and receiving love, joy, happiness, abundance, prosperity, and gratitude.

    If I am giving a talk or a presentation:

  • I intend to show up confident, self-assured, clear, focused, energetic, enthusiastic, dynamic, vibrant, memorable, impressive, dazzling, etc.

    If I am spending the day writing:

  • I intend to be creative and brilliant today.
  • I intend to be open and receptive to finding the right and perfect words that are inspiring, uplifting, and transforming.

    If I am doing something out of my comfort zone:

  • I intend to be fearless today.
  • I intend to be bold.
  • I intend to step forward with confidence.

    If I am going out to eat:

  • I intend to be seated at a table that is comfortable and has a wonderful view.
  • I intend to be served by the best (meaning knowledgeable, efficient, pleasant, lighthearted, and fun) waiter or waitress in the restaurant.
  • I intend to enjoy a delicious meal.

    Before going to bed, I review my day and write down all of the intentions that manifested. It is important to notice the results and the successes that you are manifesting.

    Action Challenge

  • Don't let another day go by without setting clear and focused intentions.
  • Take charge of your life and decide up front what kind of day you expect to have.
  • Treat this as a fun activity that helps set the tone for your day.

    Keep track of how your intentions are manifesting. If some of your intentions aren't manifesting, see if you can get even clearer and more focused about what you want to experience.

    "Our lives are shaped not as much by our experiences, as by our expectations."
    George Bernard Shaw

    • Author's Bio: 

    Kathy Atkinson is the owner of Creative Life Coaching, a personal growth and self-development company offering products and services to support your quest for happiness and success in your personal and professional life. Since 2000, Kathy has been coaching clients in the US and abroad via the telephone.

    Kathy specializes in using EFT, Emotional Freedom Techniques, to help business owners, professionals and individuals release the fears, doubts and limiting beliefs that cost them financially in their careers and emotionally in their relationships. Experience this amazing process for yourself by downloading the free EFT for Anxiety Relief script and audio recording today. Visit www.EFT-downloads.com for more information about the Emotional Freedom Techniques.

    Kathy's life coaching web site - Eight Keys to Success offers a plan and a process for taking charge of your life. Check out the success keys today at www.8keystosuccess.com