Examples of Intentional Goals: A Look Inside My Life

Hi, I’m Cassie.

Setting goals has been a habit of mine for years. I have read a million self-help books and have put forth a bunch of time and effort toward personal self-development.

As you’ll see below, some goals are much larger than others; this was intentional. I wanted to remain realistic with what I would be able to accomplish this year. I still won’t meet some of them and that’s okay with me. Instead of seeing the goals I didn’t reach, look at how many I have!

Keep in mind if you set yearly goals, that life changes. My life looks different now than it did in January when I set these goals. Some goals may need to be re-evaluated or modified, while others may need crossed off completely as not being complete or not important enough to complete. I also want to point out that I have intentionally set THESE goals to all have the same deadline: the end of the year.

Keeping a positive and realistic mindset when it comes to working towards bettering yourself or becoming more intentional is important.

24 Goals for 2024

1. Pick a one-word theme of the year

DONE!

Softness. This is an example of me setting my intention for the year.

2. Apply for a compact nursing license

NOPE!

I was a travel nurse before adopting Thea and there were several opportunities outside of Indiana that I was interested in pursuing. If you aren’t aware of how that works, I would have had to apply for another nursing license (a compact license) in order to travel and practice nursing outside of Indiana. However, since I’ve transitioned into being a stay-at-home mom, this is no longer a priority for me at this point in my life. This goal is no longer important to me and will not be completed.

3. Start therapy

DONE!

I have *just* started therapy at the suggestion of a few close friends. I look forward to continuing therapy and seeing where it takes me.

I want to point out that I wanted to start therapy back in January (it’s now September). After back and forth communication with a few local therapists, it became evident that it wasn’t going to be possible to make their availability work with my schedule so I opted for online therapy for now.

4. Finalize adoption of Thea

DONE!

This was a huge goal (obviously) and a lot of smaller goals had to be met in order to finalize it. It took longer than anticipated, but the amazing news is that I am officially a mom! 💖

5. Change Thea’s last name

DONE!

Again, quite the process (you know how legal things are super complicated), but it’s done!

6. Go on our first family trip with Thea

NOT YET.

This hasn’t happened yet this year and it may not. We have to prioritize Thea’s safety above all else and she is an elopement risk (she wanders). She has very little safety awareness and we don’t think we are at a time in our lives where this is necessarily *safe.*

7. Start a bank account for Thea

DONE!

8. Start a new bank account for myself

DONE!

9. Potty train Thea

DONE!

This was the hardest, but highest priority on my list for the year and it’s accomplished!

10. Plan a friends bachelorette party

DONE!

11. Making or growing more and buying less

A WORK IN PROGRESS.

I am currently living this way as much as I can. I occasionally bake my own bread. This year I’ve made English muffins, cookies, pancakes, naan bread, and sourdough out of sourdough starter. The “sourdough era” has ended for me though personally. It was too much maintenance for my life right now and that’s okay. We have our vegetable garden planted and have gotten some veggies already.

12. Dry January

DONE!

13. Donate blood 5 times

WILL NOT MEET.

I have donated blood twice so far this year. Life happens and two previously scheduled appointments got cancelled because of sickness and a schedule conflict. The maximum amount of times I’ll be able to donate this year will be 4 and I may not reach that either. However, as I see it, if I donate blood AT ALL during the year, it’s a benefit to someone, somewhere.

14. Volunteer

DONE!

I volunteered at a local walk for suicide prevention with a friend. Suicide prevention is something I care strongly about. I participate in walking at this event yearly to increase awareness, but it was great being able to help volunteer there for the first time.

I have always been drawn to volunteering. In previous years I have volunteered at animal shelters, food drives, toy drives, and more. There’s always someone in need of help and if you can volunteer to give back to your community, I encourage you to do so. It feels good to help others.

15. Create a photo album for Thea

DONE!

I’ve created four! She really loves her family and these have brought her so much joy.

16. Buy an aluminum water bottle

DONE! KIND OF.

I was finally ready to get a new water bottle. I purchased my last reusable water bottle in 2017. So I did.

Then, I lost it. (Out of character for me and I have NO IDEA where it ended up.)

I added a new one to my “to-thrift” list, however, after talking to one of my friends, she gifted one of her old ones to me that she was decluttering from her cabinet. It isn’t aluminum, but it was free and it works. Thank you!

17. Upgrade to non-toxic cookware

IN PROGRESS.

We have new cookware in a shopping cart online (finally picked a new brand to go with) but haven’t purchased it yet. We’ve been watching sale prices. 👀

18. Upgrade to wooden cutting boards

DONE!

19. Buy and use bamboo cooking utensils

DONE!

20. Read 24 books

IN PROGRESS.

I have read 21 books so far this year. If you’re interested in my book list, comment below and I’ll share with you what I’ve read.

21. Schedule time to talk/text/see friends monthly

JAN-SEPT DONE!

As I’m sure everyone who is reading this is aware, this is hard! With friends being scattered in various directions and available at varying times, this can get tricky. Scheduling the time has helped tremendously.

22. Date night monthly

NOPE.

I have not been showing up for this one or prioritizing it. That is one reason why I set goals and track progress.

Where am I showing up and where can I do better?

Adam and I both often prioritize doing activities with Thea, visiting with family, or completing house projects instead of going on date nights. However, we both would like more time for just us. This is a work in progress.

23. Complete 3 5ks

Done!

Each 5k I have completed this year has been with friends, which was so nice!

24. Put together a memory box for Thea

Done!

I have designated a memory box for Thea with some of her biological mother’s belongings. She doesn’t have access to these items at this time because I don’t want them to get damaged. But, everything is in one place now.

Without my personal list of goals to work toward, I would feel lost. This undeniably helps keep me grounded and working toward the person I’d like to become. It helps me live a more intentional life.

To Be Honest, I Have More Goals (LOL)

I am a goal setter.

I like to-do lists and goal lists. They just speak to me.

I review my additional goals monthly along with my “set 24 goals.” I often check this list if I’m looking for something to do and want some ideas.

My additional goal list:

- Wear every single item in my closet. (Working on this and have decluttered a lot of items.)

- Get my first tattoo. (I have an idea in mind, but nothing scheduled.)

- Power wash the windows on the house. (Not scheduled and honestly, not sure if I’ll do it because, ugh.)

- Go to a watercolors class.

- Organize a “friends’ hike.”

- Build a “facts of life” folder.

- Take an anniversary trip. (In the works of being planned!)

- Have a weekend away with Adam. (DONE! We spent a weekend together in Puerto Rico this year).

- Take Thea to the beach in June, July, August. (Done, done, done.)

- Go to the library, park, nature trails with Thea. (Done, done, done.)

- Practice calligraphy. (Done.)

- Practice setting boundaries. (A work in progress, but I’ve come far if I do say so myself. This is something therapy is sure to help with as well.)

- Go kayaking for my birthday. (Done! We went kayaking and took Thea with us. It was fun and chaotic and everything I wanted!)

- Practice “being a pollinator” and spread meaningful and true compliments.

Conclusion

Everyone’s goal lists will look different, but I hope getting an inside look at my goal list has inspired you to create one for yourself. As mentioned above, without my personal list of goals to work toward, I would feel lost. Having a goal list undeniably helps keep me grounded and working toward the person I’d like to become. A goal list could help you live a more intentional life if you let it.

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