In brief
As February begins, Melissa Kirsch shares insights on forming monthly intention-setting rituals, offering readers a chance to reflect and purposefully move through their lives in a more mindful manner.
As we plunge into February, it's an opportune moment to reflect on the idea of intention-setting not just on New Year's but in a more month-by-month approach. In a world that often demands our constant attention, the concept of consciously stepping back to assess our lives can be refreshing and transformative.There’s a charming newsletter I subscribe to, aptly named The Moon Lists, which arrives in my inbox precisely when I most need it. Each issue includes prompts that inspire journaling and invite contemplation on life's various aspects. One prompt that struck me recently was: “PHANTOM LIMB: What do you miss but would not actually want back?” This tantalizing question encourages us to consider what we long for versus what we truly desire in our current lives.In the past years, people have embraced “More/Less” and “In/Out” lists shared widely on social media during the year-end reflections. These lists serve as a check-in, allowing us to determine what we want to keep and what we plan to discard as we move into the future. An extension of this idea is presented in The Moon Lists as “Away/Toward” lists. Personally, I’ve found joy in creating these lists over the years. They help articulate what habits or aspects bring happiness and what needs to be released—like moving away from melancholy folk music and towards more uplifting, vivacious experiences.The challenge, however, lies in maintaining awareness of the intentions we’ve set. Often, after an initial burst of enthusiasm in January, we find ourselves returning to autopilot, our intentions collecting dust in forgotten corners. Imagine if we transformed these annual traditions into a monthly practice! What if, on this first day of each month, we crafted an "Away/Toward" or "Yes/No" list and kept it visible? Setting reminders on our phones could encourage us to revisit these intentions, checking our progress towards the end of the month. Engaging in this lightweight ritual could remind us that living is not only about daily tasks but involves nurturing our inner selves—acknowledging who we are and who we aspire to become. Amidst life’s hectic pace, a moment of reflection can offer a much-needed pause, allowing us to remember our hopes and desires.Embracing monthly rituals could lay the groundwork for deeper introspection as we move through life, reminding us of our complexities as individuals with distinct dreams and needs. As we embark on this new month, the invitation to engage in that self-reflective process remains open.
