How my intention setting method returned exactly the things I wanted.

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How my intention setting method returned exactly the things I wanted.

In today’s post I want to share with you a simple yet surprisingly effective way to meaningfully set, build, and achieve what you want. It’s a self-created ritual I have been practicing since late last year. At the beginning of each quarter of the year, I set a list of intentions and check back at the end of the quarter to see how I did. The first time I did it, I was floored by how effective it was.This method brought me more money, gave me key career opportunities, allowed me to travel, and even brought me a few dates ;).

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Get Out of the Waiting Trap

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Get Out of the Waiting Trap

Something I am noticing lately is how so many of us fall victim to the waiting trap. This is very common especially among us ‘go with the flow’, ‘take life as it comes’, ‘laid back’ types. We pride ourselves on being very thoughtful and reflective and not impulsive or overzealous when it comes to making a decision, especially the life-changing ones. But could our rather passive approach to life be one of the main things that hold us back from having what we truly want?  How many times have we strongly desired change in our lives; a new job, more money, to start a business, to take a class, to get more clients, only to find that months or even years later, we’re stuck in the same problem?

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How Big Is Your Pot?

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There is a story that goes: a man who went fishing in the river and would always carry a ruler with him. A friend goes to him, “why do you bring that ruler with you?” The fisherman says, “well, my pot at home is only 10 inches big, I have to make sure the fish are no bigger than that so they can fit in the pot when I take them home.” The friend looks down and then back at the fisherman confusingly and says, “man, get a bigger pot!”

The story reminds me of how small we dream when it comes to having what we want. When we dream, the whole point is to fantasize and imagine making what seems impossible, possible. Our dreams represent the unrestricted and limitless versions of ourselves and what we’re capable of.  Dreams are not meant to stay that way for long.  They are the start of an idea that is brewing and taking shape waiting to be brought into the world and become reality. 

I remember one afternoon having a conversation with my mother. I had landed upon an idea that excited me and I couldn’t wait to share it with her. After the words poured out of my mouth with unbridled excitement, she simply responds to me, gently and lovingly, “Ari, dream bigger.”

She was right. 

Let me ask you. For the writers out there: Have you ever thought about appearing on Oprah to talk about your bestselling book? For the artists out there: Have you ever thought about traveling the world and selling your art pieces to high profile museums? For the Lawyers out there: Have you ever thought of opening your own yoga studio in the heart of Manhattan and teaching mindfulness to your students?

Many of us don’t think on those terms. Why? Maybe we think that we are being a bit outlandish or foolish. That in somehow dreaming we have to inject some form of “realistic” thinking to make sure our dreams can be contained and not out of the realm of possibility?

Get a bigger pot!         

What fun is it when our dreams are small enough for us to contain? That is not the point of our imagination.  Take that dream that you’ve had in mind and have been working on for the past year and dial it up another 10%. And then another 10%. What would your dream look like at that point?

There are no perimeters on what we can have as long as we can dream it.  

How big is your pot?