Resolutions never made sense to me. They always seemed like rules or like you were knowingly setting yourself up for failure. Every January, the world splits into 2 camps. The ones who furiously write down all their resolutions in their freshly bought planner and those who quietly judge them. It’s all about losing weight, writing more, being better at something vague, eating differently, you know what I mean. Here’s the truth though, resolutions almost never stick. They’re rigid like a checklist you’re destined to fail.

The problem with resolutions is they’re rooted in lack of. They often start with what’s wrong with you, what you need to fix, shrink, or control. They’re binary. You either succeed or fail. Miss a gym day? Broken resolution. Eat dessert? You ruined a resolution. They ignore real life and the messy middle. Life isn’t linear. Growth doesn’t happen in a straight line. Resolutions rarely leave room for detours or even sick days. It’s just a destination to failure. They become a trap. A way to measure yourself against some ridiculous standard. With the way life is, do you really need another reason to beat yourself up over?

Intentions on the other hand are softer. They’re not about perfection and more about direction. Intentions are value driven. Instead of “lose 20 pounds”, you set an intention to eat healthier and nourish your body with care. Intentions adapt, they are definitive. They bend with the seasons of life. If you can’t journal daily, maybe just journal weekly sometimes. The intention is to create space for reflection and that still holds whether it’s every day or sometimes it’s just once a week. Intentions are about honoring the journey. They remind you that growth is about how you show up, not how fast you arrive. Intentions feel like planting seeds. They don’t demand immediate results. Intentions invite you to nurture, water, and trust the process.

Resolutions tell you what to do. Intentions remind you who you want to be. So, when the calendar flips, you won’t ask “what should I fix?” instead you’ll ask, “how do I want to feel?” The question leads you more to intentions that are expansive, sustainable, and compassionate. Resolutions are about control. Intentions are about connection. Personally, I’d rather live a year guided by connection to me and the messy magic of life than to chase a list of rules I’ll abandon by March. Be kind to yourself in 2026. You deserve it. 

XOXO,

Savi Monroe