Well.. here we are! The beginning of another school year! Students are heading back, teachers are hoping to be ready to go and parents, well, parents are grateful for a little peace and quiet. It’s a time of change, of starting new journeys, seeing old friends and making new ones. There is this electric anticipation in the air, sometimes it’s anxiety inducing, sometimes it’s a thrill, and it’s always palpable.
As we start this year, let’s talk about the intention we can bring and what that can do to define the year ahead. Mindset will make or break you in this life, because we as humans have a way of creating self-fulfilling prophecies. What we think, what we anxiously plan for, can become a reality simply because all of that energy and intention is making it so.
I talk at schools all the time about “the stories we tell ourselves” in the context of how we start our days. If you rise and say, “well this is going to be horrible” – you will find a way to make that true. By the same token, if you wake every day, and regardless of the mood you are in, you tell yourself “today is going to be a great day” – you’ll find a way to make that true as well. Our confirmation bias kicks in and we find ways, subconsciously, to find proof in either direction. What you set out to look for, you will find. That, in a nutshell is INTENTION.
So, I ask you – What is your intention for this school year? What do you want it to look like for you? What do you want to get out of it? What are you going to bring to others? While they seem like BIG questions – they don’t have to be. In fact, the clearer and more concise your intention is, the more likely you are to follow it through. It can be as simple as “Today is going to be a great day” just that phrase, repeated, spoken aloud and followed through on can create monumental shifts in your moments, your days and your year.
We can be of better service to ourselves, our goals and those around us if we get clear on this intention. The problem is, most people aren’t. Most people are letting life happen TO them, instead of taking back control. Will it always go your way? Absolutely not. There will be stumbles and falls, you will lose track and you will feel defeated, just remember that failure is part of the journey, and steps off the path help you to discover new things about yourself and the world around you. Having the clarity will help you recalibrate when things go sideways. This may seem like some high-concept stuff to start your year – but it’s actually quite simple, you just need to dial it in.
I’m going to be my truest self this year
I’m going to lean into the subjects I love and succeed at them
I’m going to get into the post-secondary school I want
We are going to have a stellar year of events in student leadership
I’m going to bring energy to every interaction and be a better friend
I’m going to make my school a better place
I’m going to be of service to those around me
Those are just a few examples of the simple kind of statement of intention that can absolutely transform your year.
So… keep your head held high, keep your intention clear – and have an amazing school year!
Drop me a line anytime if I can be of service! Sending my very best, always!
Ian Tyson
To learn more or book Ian for a presentation, check out his speaking page here.