Setting Intentions for 2021

{2 minutes to read} Like everyone else in the world, I looked forward to 2021 and the opportunity to put 2020 behind me.

While we all hoped that the new year would bring something better — in health, in politics, and in regaining in-person connections to friends and family — of course, nothing changed at the stroke of midnight. And then I thought about expectations.

The meditation teacher, Joseph Goldstein, speaks about “the next pleasant thing.” When we find ourselves constantly looking for something that will give us pleasure, he asks us to remember that like all things, it will be ephemeral. Think about pleasant events in your past and the amazing feelings they generated. Then recognize that those feelings, like all emotions — whether pleasant or unpleasant — passed.

Goldstein suggests that we can look forward to good things happening and to making changes in our lives, without depending upon them for our happiness or being unhappy if they do not occur. We can enjoy the pleasant events without clinging to them which will allow us to fully experience those events. Then, like all emotions, which by their very nature are fleeting, they will always remain as part of our experience.

In terms of expectations, Joseph Goldstein suggests starting a day with an intention — intend to be mindful of your present experiences instead of getting caught up in expectations of what might and might not occur. This can help you avoid getting derailed if something doesn’t meet the expectation.

And if you’re looking for intentions that can help you make a change in your life, in addition to being present, I refer you to my meditation teacher, Cheryl Brause’s 2019 post, “Say Goodbye to New Year’s Resolutions” which may be equally helpful in 2021!