At the beginning of every year (this year included), I notice a familiar pattern with many of my clients.
They come in wanting to “set goals,” but almost immediately, there’s trepidation in their voice.
There is worry the goals will be too big.
They fear setting themselves up for disappointment.
They’ve been here before motivated in January, discouraged by March, or sooner.
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone.
What I often remind my clients is this: goals aren’t the problem. The way we approach them sometimes is. That’s where intentions come in.
Intentions are not weaker than goals.
They are not vague hopes.
I like to refer to them as pre-goals. The foundation that makes goals feel grounded, achievable, and aligned rather than intimidating. Let’s explore the difference, why intentions matter so much, and how tools like vision boards, even digital ones, can support this process in a powerful way.
Why Goals Can Feel Heavy (and Sometimes Paralyzing)
Goals are often framed as outcomes:
- Lose thirty pounds
- Get promoted
- Launch the business
- Find the relationship
While goals can be motivating, they can also feel loaded. They carry expectations, timelines, and pressure.
Many of my clients share that when they think about goals, they immediately jump to questions like:
- What if I fail?
- What if I don’t follow through?
- What if I aim too high and disappoint myself again?
When goals feel lofty or overwhelming, our nervous system can interpret them as a threat rather than an invitation. Instead of feeling energized, we feel stuck, avoidant, or critical of ourselves. That’s not a lack of discipline. It’s a lack of alignment.
What Are Intentions, Really?
An intention is about how you want to be, not just what you want to achieve.
Intentions focus on:
- Values
- Energy
- Direction
- Presence
- Meaning
They don’t demand immediate results. Instead, they create a way of moving forward.
For example:
- A goal might be: Get a new job.
- An intention might be: Approach my career with confidence, clarity, and self-trust.
The intention shapes your behavior long before the goal is reached. This is why I often describe intentions as pre-goals. They come first. They create emotional, mental, and energetic conditions that allow goals to emerge naturally and sustainably.
Intentions vs. Goals: Key Differences
Goals Are Outcome-Focused
Goals point to a finish line. They answer the question: What do I want to accomplish?
Intentions Are Process-Focused
Intentions answer a different question: How do I want to show up along the way?
Neither is better than the other, but intentions give goals a soul.
When clients start with intentions, their goals tend to feel:
- Less forced
- More aligned
- Easier to adapt
Less tied to self-worth
Why Intentions Build Confidence Instead of Fear
One of the biggest benefits of intentions is that they reduce the all-or-nothing mindset.
You can live into an intention every single day even when progress feels slow.
For example:
- If your intention is consistency, showing up imperfectly still counts.
- If your intention is self-respect, setting a boundary is a win even if the bigger goal takes time.
- If your intention is curiosity, learning something new matters more than immediate success.
This builds self-trust, which is something no checklist or productivity system can give you.
How Intentions Naturally Lead to Better Goals
Here’s what I see happening again and again with clients:
When intentions are clear, goals become clearer too.
Instead of asking:
- What should I be aiming for?
They start asking:
- What makes sense given who I’m becoming?
Goals shift from pressure-driven to purpose-driven.
They become:
- More realistic
- More personalized
- More motivating
- More flexible
And importantly, clients stop abandoning themselves in the process.
The Role of Vision Boards (Yes, Even Digital Ones)
Vision boards often get dismissed as fluffy or unrealistic but when used intentionally, they’re incredibly effective.
A vision board is not about predicting the future.
It’s about clarifying direction.
When paired with intentions, vision boards help you:
- Make abstract feelings visual
- Stay connected to what matters
- Reinforce identity shifts
Engage both logic and intuition
Digital Vision Boards Count (and Work)
If scissors and poster boards aren’t your thing, digital vision boards are just as powerful. I create three digital vision boards every year. One for my personal and professional life, one for my business, and one for my website. I print several copies out and hang one copy of each in my office. I also make the personal/professional vision board the wallpaper on my laptop. They work!
Tools like Canva, Pinterest, a private phone album, or a desktop background can all serve as visual anchors.
What matters isn’t the format, it’s the felt connection you have to what you’re seeing.
A strong vision board should evoke:
- A sense of calm or excitement
- Recognition (“Yes, this feels like me”)
Possibility without pressure
Intentions, Vision, and the Nervous System
One reason intentions and vision boards work so well together is that they engage the nervous system differently than rigid goal setting.
They signal:
- Safety
- Choice
- Agency
- Direction without urgency
This makes it easier to take consistent action without burnout or avoidance. In other words, when you feel regulated, you’re more likely to follow through.
Bringing It All Together
If traditional goal setting has left you feeling discouraged or disconnected in the past, you don’t need to abandon goals altogether.
You just need a better starting point.
Intentions give you permission to begin where you are.
Vision boards help you remember where you’re headed.
Goals then become a byproduct of alignment rather than a source of pressure.
This approach isn’t about lowering standards it’s about creating sustainable momentum.
10 Tips for Using Intentions as Pre-Goals
- Start with values before outcomes
Ask yourself what matters most right now. - Choose one core intention per area of life
Less is more. - Let intentions guide decisions, not just plans
Use them as a filter. - Revisit intentions weekly
They evolve as you do. - Pair intentions with gentle structure
Structure supports intention, it doesn’t replace it. - Create a vision board that reflects how you want to feel
Not just what you want to have. - Use digital tools if that feels easier
Consistency matters more than aesthetics. - Release the need for perfect clarity
Intentions can sharpen over time. - Notice small evidence of alignment
That’s progress. - Let goals emerge naturally from intention-aligned action
Trust the process.