Hi Leaders,
We set goals to move forward. But what happens when life derails our plans overnight?
Everyone knows about setting goals. We set them at work, at home, and in the organizations we support.
Goals give us direction. They define success and help us measure progress.
And there’s another practice I’ve found equally powerful: setting daily intentions.
Unlike a goal, an intention isn’t about success or failure. It’s about focus. No judgment, no metrics, just: What is my intention today?
Yesterday, my goal was to finish a big project. My intention? To do it while not burning myself out.
I try to set my daily intentions around self-care.
It has been my hack for staying present and breaking my bad habit of always putting myself last.
But today, I was reminded that some futures are simply out of our control.
And sometimes, no goal or intention can bring back the future we imagined.
A friend of mine married her best friend. Tragically, on their honeymoon, he died in a freak accident.
In an instant, her future was gone.
This is an extreme example, but we all face moments when our reality shifts in ways we never expected.
...A layoff from a job you love.
...The death of a loved one.
...An illness that alters your path forward.
As time passes, it is easy to compare your life as it is now to the reality you expected to have.
Milestones make this even harder. We measure the gap between expectation and reality, often seeing only what’s missing. But that’s a dangerous game.
When I was recovering from my brain injury, I told my therapist, "I just wanted my life to be exactly like it was before."
My therapist paused, and simply asked me, “Why?”
That question changed my perspective.
We would never expect to go back to how we were when we were 10 years old and have everything to be exactly how it was.
So why, do we think we can ever truly go back to a prior version of ourselves and our lives?
We can’t.
We can only move forward.
We can only build a new version of our lives that works for who we are now.
And the real challenge? Learning to build a new vision for our lives. One that isn’t about recreating the past but about shaping the future from where we stand now.
That’s where setting intentions and goals can help get us back on track to where we need to go.
As leaders, we are often navigating challenges both for ourselves and for the teams we lead.
We lead people through uncertainty, through disruption, through the moments when the path they envisioned disappears.
The best leaders often help others define a new reality. One that they can build, be excited about, and own.
So when you or someone you lead faces a moment of upheaval, remember: the goal isn’t to get back to where you were.
It’s to move forward with intention.
The future we imagined may be gone. But the one ahead? That's ours to create.
Key Takeaways
✅ You can’t move forward by holding onto the past.
When life shifts in unexpected ways, trying to recreate what was will only hold you back. Growth comes from embracing the present and building a future based on where you are now.
✅ Intentions keep you grounded when goals fall apart.
Goals measure success, but they don’t account for life’s unpredictability. Setting daily intentions helps you focus on what truly matters without judgment, comparison, or pressure to achieve a specific outcome.
✅ Great leaders help others build a new vision.
In times of uncertainty, leadership isn’t about preserving or restoring the past. It’s about helping yourself and others find purpose in the present and create a future worth moving toward.
Wrapping It Up: Moving Forward With Intention
Life doesn’t always follow the script we had in mind. Plans change, unexpected events reshape our path, and sometimes, the future we envisioned is no longer an option.
The key isn't to try to reclaim the past, it's learning to move forward, with a renewed focus.
Goals help us set direction, but intentions keep us grounded, especially when life throws a curveball.
So today, instead of just focusing on what you want to achieve, set an intention for how you want to show up.
What’s one intention you can set today to move forward, no matter what's ahead?
Keep leading, keep adapting, and remember: the future ahead is still yours to create.
Until next time!
Andrea
special offer
7 Days to Amplify Your Impact
At the beginning of this year, I created a course (delivered by email) about how to amplify your impact as a leader.
I'm offering it to all my Leadership Advantage subscribers.
Enroll for FREE today to start leading your way.
|
P.S. If you enjoyed this newsletter, please forward it to someone you think might like it. Make sure to subscribe below ↓
