Goals vs. Intentions: A Fresh Perspective for Your Planning Journey

When I was younger and created the NFP Planner, I was very goal-orientated. My focus was entirely on strategies and ticking off tasks. It was all about achieving the next milestone, staying productive, and constantly pushing forward. While I accomplished a lot, I also found myself struggling with burnout—caught in the endless cycle of "go, go, go."

The planner itself was born from this struggle: a tool to help me keep on top of everything, but also a way to bring some balance back into my life. Yet at the time, I hadn’t fully embraced what balance really meant. My world revolved around achievement, even if the process felt forced or out of sync with what I truly needed.

From Goals to Flow

Then, life threw a curveball. The pandemic hit, and suddenly, everything came to a standstill. Time slowed down in a way none of us had imagined possible. What I initially thought of as disruption became a space for reflection. This was also the time I started looking after my dad, and for about two years, time stopped for me. I didn’t know how long I would be caring for him, so I had no way to plan or create. I realised how much I had been resisting life’s natural flow, trying to control every outcome, and exhausting myself in the process.

It was during this period that I learned the art of setting intentions. When things felt completely out of control, I had no choice but to loosen my grip and trust—to let life unfold without constant intervention. For a self-confessed control freak like me, this shift wasn’t easy. But as I leaned into it, I discovered something beautiful: even when I didn’t have all the answers, life continued to move forward, offering opportunities and lessons to support my journey. Life became easier, and I found more trust that even though I didn’t have the answers, it would be okay.

Understanding Goals and Intentions

Both goals and intentions have their place, but they serve different purposes:

• Goals are tangible and outcome-driven. They’re about deciding what you want to achieve and creating a structured path to get there. Goals give you direction, accountability, and measurable progress.
• Intentions are more about the journey. They’re rooted in how you want to feel and the values you want to embody. While goals focus on doing, intentions focus on being.

For example, a goal might be to launch a new project or hit a sales target. An intention, on the other hand, could be to approach your work with curiosity and joy, staying mindful of how it aligns with your deeper purpose.

In my kinesiology sessions, when I talk to people about figuring out their future, I often highlight the "unknowingness" of intentions. Intentions aren’t about having all the answers upfront. Instead, they’re about working things out step by step. When you set an intention, you only need to identify the next step. That step might give you a clue to the one after, or there might be a period where no steps appear. And that’s okay—because intentions are usually bigger than immediate actions. They’re about aligning with a broader purpose and allowing time to reveal the path.

Integrating Goals and Intentions with the NFP Planner

Over the years, the way I use the NFP Planner has evolved to reflect this balance. While it still supports goal-setting and productivity, it now also encourages reflection and intention-setting. Here’s how you can use the planner to work with both:

1. Start with Your Intention:
Reflect on what feels meaningful right now. What values or emotions do you want to guide your actions? Write this down as your guiding intention for the month or week. (Dream week, Now Which Way)

2. Set Your Goals:
Based on your intention, identify 1-3 specific, achievable goals. Make them SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) but keep them aligned with your bigger picture. (90-day goal planning)

3. Create Space for Flow:
Leave room in your planner for flexibility. Sometimes life will offer opportunities or detours that align better with your intention than your original plan.   I call these the butterfly moments. When something shows up not when you want it, but when it's meant to.

4. Celebrate Progress:
Reflect regularly on both your achievements and the experience of working towards them. Did your actions stay true to your intention? If not, what can you adjust?  

From Control to Trust

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that we don’t always need to have all the answers. When we release the need to control every detail, we open ourselves up to possibilities we might never have considered. Life has a way of supporting us when we trust it, even in moments of uncertainty.

So as you approach your planning, ask yourself: what’s driving your actions? Are you chasing goals just for the sake of achieving, or are you aligning them with intentions that reflect your true self? By balancing the two, you can create a life that’s not only productive but also deeply fulfilling.

Your Journey Starts Here

As you pick up your NFP Planner, take a moment to reflect on what you truly need this year. Begin with an intention, set meaningful goals, and give yourself permission to flow with whatever comes your way. Trust the process, celebrate the small wins, and know that the journey itself is just as important as the destination.