How intentions are different from goals, and why they matter?

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How intentions are different from goals, and why they matter?

As students, we often set goals for the future, be it about further studies, jobs and internships, or careers. However, goals cannot be achieved on their own, which may lead to failure. This is why it is important to accompany them with intentions, which focus on the present. They help us align with who we want to be by helping us recognise our values and beliefs. Intentions act as a reminder on how we want to show up in the world and live each day, and consequently giving us the purpose to show up to meet our goals.

Intentions and goals are words whose meanings are exchanged often, but in actuality are quite different. However, just because the words aren't interchangeable, it does not mean that they are independent of one another. But before we jump into the difference between goals and intentions, and how they relate to one another, it is important that we define them.

Defining goals and intentions

Goals are quite self-explanatory, as they are something that each of us set on a daily basis. It is defined as the object of a person's ambition or effort; an aim or desired result. It’s an end result that we don’t have yet but came up with by using our mind to analyze our thoughts about a problem that needs solving.

Intentions, on the other hand, is a word that a lot of us use, but often lack clarity on the power it holds. If a goal is some kind of the desired outcome, then an intention can be thought of as an energetic starting point for that goal. It is quite common that people confuse intentions with goals, however, the former is focused on our values in the present and our determination behind them, while the latter focus on results achieved in the future.

For instance, as a student, you can have the intention of wanting better grades. Your goals in this situation will be the actions that you take in order to score more and succeed. In simple words, a goal is what you want to do, and an intention is who you want to be.

Difference between goals and intentions

Both intentions and goals influence what happens in our lives but share quite a difference.

Goals tend to be finite points on a map. They’re future tense. They’re S.M.A.R.T. (specific, measurable, actionable, realistic, timebound). To understand better, think of certain goals that you have set for yourself. Examples of goals that students set are, “Become a corporate lawyer in four years”, “Complete four internships by the end of this year”, “Sit for GRE (or any other competitive exam) this year”, and many more.

Intentions, on the other hand, shift our focus to the present. The outcome is often a feeling or understanding or a new state of being, versus a measurable accomplishment. They are more open-ended and expansive than goals. And because we have direct control of the outcome of our intentions, they don’t have the same potential for failure as goals. As students, you can have many intentions like, “To be independent and settle”, “Open myself to more knowledge that my field can offer”, “Effectively communicate and be confident”, and more.

So, the difference between goals and intentions is quite simple. Intentions can help you dig deeper by making you realise who you want to be in life. They have no limits and can be something as small as making someone smile everyday, to something as holistic as wanting to live a healthier life. Goals on the other hand are quite specific, measurable, and future-based.

The power of intentions

While it is established that goals and intentions are two different activities, it does not mean that they are independent of each other. In fact, intentions can be thought of as a catalyst for achieving our goals. They help us in recognising our values and raise our emotional energy, which in turn promotes physical energy.

Famous psychology professor Peter Gollwitzer has carried out several experiments amongst college students to prove that intentions help us successfully carry out our goals. In one of his studies, he had university students identify two goals for an upcoming Christmas break. Students chose goals like writing a seminar paper, settling an ongoing family conflict, or engaging in sports activities. Half of these students were asked to outline a specific implementation plan to accomplish their goals.

The result? Two-thirds of those who set implementation intentions achieved their goal. Whereas most of those who never set such intentions failed.

To understand why setting intentions are so important, we can think of goals as the destination, while intentions are the roadmap. Having the wrong intention, or not having an intention at all, can alter where you end up. And even if you do reach your destination, if you didn’t actively set an intention before getting there, you may find that you feel differently at the end of your journey than you had imagined.

This is why take a few minutes out of your day to set your intentions, because goal setting on its own can feel empty. Understand who you are, your values, and feelings by setting out your intentions to successfully combine them with your goals.

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