THE ART OF SETTING INTENTIONS
Whether you are aware of it or not, our behavior is constantly being reflected by our intentions. Setting my intention before I do anything has been a huge part of my life. In Islam, we are taught to be aware of our intentions because, without them, your energy flows into something that doesn't align with who you are. We view intentions as something that determines the values of one's actions. I see it as God's way of teaching us to be conscious of our inner state rather than our physical ones.
A lack of awareness leads to your intentions becoming corrupted, stained by the opinions of others or overlooked by one’s own intent. My “ins and outs” are terms that have been popularized on social media that showcase things people are either no longer associating with or committing to adding to their lives. Setting an ins and outs list is a form of intentional reflection that helps individuals realize where they are and where they want to end up.
If you are unaware of where you are currently, you won’t know in what direction you want your life to proceed. "In and out" gives people a choice to create a path that isn’t influenced by parents, friends, or society's expectations. It allows you to tap into a certain part of you, whether you knew it existed or not. And by creating an ins and outs list, you provide yourself opportunities to turn your ideal vision of life into reality.
Studies have shown that participating in intentional reflection and intention setting increases your chances of following through with your goals by up to 91%. Remember the power of repetitiveness: setting and reminding yourself of your intentions today helps guide you toward building a foundation for your future. I want to share some of my ins and outs and the reasoning behind them as a template, or an example should you be interested in creating your own. These lists are personal. You have to decide to actively choose the life you want or risk taking actions decided by others and outside factors, intentionally or unintentionally.
MY INS
Having a consistent and good sleeping schedule: Using ‘’I’m a night owl’’ as an excuse does not serve me well now or in the future.
Taking advantage of school resources!!!
Self-care: taking care of myself is productive and fulfilling.
Educating myself outside of school: I feel the need to experience all spectrums of life beyond school.
MY OUTS
Working until I'm burned out: an area I need major improvement on.
Not having a career plan: I dislike not knowing where I’m headed.
Not having an identity: we must consistently try to explore who we are beyond what society wants us to be.
Staying stagnant: no further explanation.
