Welcome to 2015! How did that happen?

Today is my first day back at work and the year is full of possibility. In fact it’s often the number of possibilities that leads me to spin wheels while I work out where to invest my energy.

That’s a key reason why I like to set a clear intention – for a meeting, for the day, for a month…  And for a year. It’s usually a ‘single word intention’.

My intention for 2015 is ‘Fearless. Focused. Fun.’

• Fearless – Fearless Leadership is what I stand for and what I help to develop in others. 2015 is my year of Fearlessness in a way no other has been before. As Susan Jeffers says beautifully in her book title, ‘Feel the fear and do it anyway’.
• Focused – Full attention to the person/activity at hand, and then move onto the next thing. Commit. Act. Complete.
• Fun – Enjoy everything I do, personally and professionally. This is the life I have chosen.

This intention has already guided me in many ways, and it’s only January 12!

There’s some science behind the idea of intentions too. Being clear on your intention primes your Reticular Activating System (RAS). The RAS is a set of connected nuclei in the brain that among other things filters in what is relevant to you.

To understand the RAS, think about the last time you bought a car. Once you have decided you want a red Mazda 3, you suddenly see red Mazda 3s on the road everywhere. Was this such a popular car before you decided to buy one? This is your RAS at work.

Your RAS takes instructions from your conscious mind and passes them on to your subconscious mind, so be deliberate about what you ask it to filter in and out this year.

What’s your intention for 2015? I would love to know so leave a comment here.

Have an Extraordinary 2015!