We all have good intentions. Good intentions to exercise, to eat healthier, to sleep better, to call our moms more, to make that big career change, to socialize more, to socialize less -- the list goes on and on.

But we are not judged on our good intentions. We are judged on our actions. My friend could have the best intentions to spend more time with me but after three dinner cancellations, distance, not closeness, grows between us. I could have the best intentions to call my family once a week but getting lost in a Netflix marathon of Gilmore Girls doesn’t count as family time. You could have the best intentions to find your dream job, but if you aren’t putting in the time and effort, you’ll still be sitting there at your desk reading articles like this next year.

"All you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it.” - Benjamin Mee

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The life we want and the life we live are two very different things when our actions don’t follow our intentions. The more you act in line with your intentions, the more they seep into your daily interactions and conversations, eventually taking root as a part of who you already are, not only who you plan to someday be.

Your intentions matter because they are the things you want. Those desires can be the solid ground upon which you walk instead of the thoughts that you get lost in when you are doing something else. But you have to be brave and that bravery can’t be found in a yoga class or in losing five pounds or anywhere else you think it may be hiding. Benjamin Mee once wrote, “...all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it.”

When you think about what you want to do with this year, remember that your intentions are only the first step. And then remember that you can’t get anywhere with just one step. Be brave: take that second step, put one foot in front of the other and keep walking. Enjoy the journey and don’t get detoured by the insecurities and fears. I promise the people you will meet are great and the view will be absolutely breathtaking.

Want to practice intention this year? Come to our Intentions & Habit Building Workshop on January 20th!

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Monica Pirani is a yoga teacher living in New York City with her amazing husband. She grew up loving dinosaurs and shoulder stand, and is a self-proclaimed science geek. She loves writing, yoga, summer, french fries, and empowering others to remember that they are already whole and complete. One day she’ll own a dog, but that’s a story for another day. Check out Monica's last post of 2014, 10 Important Questions To Ask Before 2015.