With the new year fast approaching, many of us are already feeling that familiar pressure to completely transform ourselves. Do you feel the constant push to fix what’s “wrong” with you before the calendar changes? To create new year’s resolutions to change yourself into someone else?
What if I told you that real, lasting change doesn’t come from forcing yourself into something new, but rather from aligning with who you already are?
In this post, we’re talking about intention setting—not from a place of lack, but from a place of wholeness. Whether it’s improving your relationships, focusing on personal growth, or creating more happiness in your life, this is your guide to kicking off your year as your most aligned and empowered self. Let’s talk about being over doing for 2025.
Why Most Resolutions Fail (And How to Set Intentions That Stick)
You know what I love about intentions versus goals? Goals are like the destination on your map—they give you direction. But intentions? They’re about the journey. They help us feel into the version of ourselves that naturally creates the outcomes we desire—without force or pressure.
Most New Year’s resolutions fail not because people don’t want to change badly enough, but because they’re trying to force actions without first shifting their identity. For example, if you want to get healthier, saying, I need to lose 30 pounds puts the focus on the outcome. But what if instead you said, I’m someone who nourishes my body and moves with joy? Can you feel the difference?
One approach places the outcome far into the future, while the other brings that experience into the now. It’s not just semantics—it’s about creating lasting change from the inside out.
The Power of Identity in Intention Setting
Most of our so-called problems are actually identity problems in disguise. When we solve the identity piece, the actions flow naturally—they don’t feel forced.
Let’s look at relationships as an example. Many people start the year saying, I want to find my person or I need to fix my marriage. But when we approach relationships from a place of wanting or fixing, we’re operating from lack. Instead, what if you stepped into being the person who already has the fulfilling relationship?
For example:
- Instead of I need to find someone who completes me, try I am someone who creates deep, meaningful connections and shows up as my authentic self.
- Instead of I need to fix my marriage, try I’m someone who communicates with openness and cultivates joy in my relationships.
Can you feel the shift? When you set intentions from this space of being, you align yourself with the version of you who naturally creates the outcomes you desire.
Common Pitfalls in Intention Setting
Let’s talk about three common pitfalls I see (and have lived through myself):
- The Not Enough Trap: Setting intentions from a place of thinking you’re broken or need to be fixed doesn’t work. Why? Because you’re already whole. You’re not becoming a new person—you’re allowing more of your true, authentic self to emerge.
- The Someday Syndrome: Putting your joy and fulfillment off until you reach some future goal creates disappointment along the way. Instead, bring that future energy into the now. The magic is in embodying the person you’re becoming today.
- The All-or-Nothing Mindset: Thinking you need to transform everything all at once is a recipe for burnout. Small, aligned actions are what create sustainable change.
How to Know If You’re Setting Intentions from Lack vs. Wholeness
Pay attention to how it feels in your body. Lack feels like tension, constriction, or a sense of urgency. It might sound like I should or I need to.
On the flip side, wholeness feels like expansion, openness, and excitement. It sounds like I choose to or I get to.
For example, let’s say you feel jealous seeing another couple in love. That jealousy points to a desire within you that you don’t believe you can have. Instead of thinking, I’ll never have that, shift your perspective: This is proof that this kind of connection is possible for me too.
Staying Connected to Your Intentions Daily
The real magic happens when you stay connected to your intentions daily. Here’s how:
- Morning Connection Practice: Before you pick up your phone or jump into your day, take 20-30 seconds to embody your intention. Feel into it, think about it, and let it permeate your being.
- Anchors: Leave reminders of your intention throughout your space—a word on your mirror, a note on your desk, or a symbol that represents your intention.
- Evening Reflection: Before bed, celebrate moments from your day where you aligned with your intention. They don’t have to be huge wins—maybe you took three deep breaths before responding to stress or chose a healthy lunch.
A Guided Visualization to Embody Your Future Self
In the season finale episode of Create Your Happy, titled Intention Setting: Being Over Doing, I share a powerful guided visualization exercise designed to help you connect with and embody your intentions. This isn’t just another planning session—it’s an opportunity to truly feel into the version of yourself who naturally creates the outcomes you desire.
Here’s how it works:
- Grab a pen and paper, and settle into a cozy spot.
- Tune in at approximately the 12-minute mark of the episode, where I’ll guide you through a visualization to step into your future self. You’ll connect with the energy of your intentions, feel into what’s possible, and receive wisdom from the version of you who’s already living them.
- After the exercise, take a moment to write down everything you experienced—what you saw, felt, and heard.
This practice isn’t just for New Year’s—it’s a tool you can use anytime you want to envision a fresh future or reconnect with your intentions.
Your Turn: Take Action and Embody Your Intentions
Here’s your practical action step: write down your intention and keep it somewhere visible. Each morning, take 30 seconds to reconnect with it. Read it out loud, feel it in your body, and let it guide your day.
Remember, transformation isn’t about massive action all at once—it’s about consistent micro-movements from an aligned place.
Let’s Keep the Conversation Going
If this post resonated with you, I’d love to hear about it. Drop a comment and let me know: What’s your intention for 2025—or for any fresh start you’re envisioning?
Together, let’s make your year a year of beautiful alignment, growth, and joy.
I love you! Now let’s go do some epic shit, shall we?
Christy xo
Tune into the full episode here:
Ready to Transform Your Love Life in 2025?
If creating more love–whether with yourself or in your relationships–is part of your 2025 intentions, Love, Unstuck is your practical guidebook for making it happen. Unlike traditional relationship books that focus on “fixing” what’s wrong, Love, Unstuck helps you reconnect with your innate wholeness and create lasting change from the inside out.
Through powerful exercises, practical tools, and real-life examples, you’ll discover:
- How to shift your identity to naturally attract healthier relationships
- Ways to transform your patterns without forcing change
- Tools for building unshakeable self-trust
- Practices for creating authentic connections that last
- Methods for turning intention into aligned action
Start your journey to more love today here.
Sweary AF Meditations Need a quick escape from holiday chaos? These unique, no-BS meditations are perfect for finding your f*cking zen between family gatherings or when you need a moment of peace. Each meditation takes less than 5 minutes but can transform your holiday mood from stressed to blessed. Check them out here.
Additional resources and offerings
More Great Content
Identity Insights: Navigate Life’s Problems with Ease
Self-Trust: The Key to Transforming Your Relationships
Embracing Peaceful Holidays: The Power of Boundaries
Holiday Harmony: 5 Tips to Feast & Family Bliss
Holiday Boundaries: Your Guide to Creating Joy Instead of Stress
Season Finale
As we wrap up Season 3 of Create Your Happy, I’ll be taking a short break to start 2025, with the podcast returning sometime in spring. While you wait for Season 4, this is the perfect time to catch up on past episodes and share your experiences with me. What topics would you like to see covered when we return? Your input helps shape future episodes because you’re why I do what I do!
Listen/ Watch
S3E33 | New Year Intention Setting – Being Over Doing in 2025
