VISION RETREAT: Setting Intentions
I look forward to this time of year so much. Between the Christmas season, decorations, seeing family and friends, and good food enjoyed with them all, it’s a very nostalgic time.
The last few years have also been a time for new traditions for my husband and I. We began taking a couple days away for our vision retreat, to have an opportunity to reflect, plan and set intentions for the following year in a serene environment nestled in nature, away from our usual space.
Doing this gives us an environment for inspiration, less distraction and a safe space to host conversations and share what we want for ourselves, both separately and as a couple.
We each have our own process but part of the time for me personally, is taking time to reflect on what I’d set out to do this past year, what I’ve accomplished, and where I came up short. Though this part can be disappointing, I’ll accept it and move it forward if what I’d intended to do still hasn’t come to fruition, and then learn what I need to change for next year. I imagine for most people, this might be the case. It can become frustrating to constantly move items over from your to-do list that never get done. As long as you keep striving for that end goal, you can’t go wrong!
This exercise does not end in a final draft after our stay. I use this time as a brain dump, to gain some clarity, to gather ideas. To jot down things I want to do next year, goals I want to hit, places I want to go, how I want to feel and habits I want to start cultivating for myself.
Don’t think of it as overwhelming, rather approach it as something to get excited about. “I GET to set out and try these new things for myself!”
The other thing to remember is that once you write down all you want to accomplish–and I encourage you to write first–it doesn’t have to happen in January or even the first quarter of the year. You have an entire year to focus on what you want, little by little, week to week. You can tweak your list as you see fit because you’re always evolving as time passes.
The problem most people face is that we are hardwired into thinking that change needs to happen immediately. That’s just not feasible and creates a scarcity mindset and demotivates us from staying on course. I suffer from this constantly, oftentimes forgetting about those tiny wins along the way. You need to remember to celebrate them.
As we head into this new year, ask yourself what you want to do. How do you want to show up for yourself (and for your loved ones), what changes have you been wanting to make and how can you start moving towards making them?
2025 is a big year for me and many of my friends. I turn 50 and am just in awe of how I got here when I hardly feel 30 😉. When I was younger I looked at 50 as ‘old’ and now here I am, not feeling old at all and honestly probably feeling the best I ever have. There's so much life ahead and I want to make the most of it!
One of my focuses next year is to cultivate joy and fun in my life, and I'm always brainstorming different ways to do that for myself, big and small.
What do you want to focus on in 2025?
This was the perfect spot for our retreat at Senn Yuen Farm in Milan, NY