
In a world that rushes forward at breakneck speed, there's profound wisdom in pressing pause – not just once a year, but twelve times, as each month opens its fresh chapter. Recently, I came across Melissa Kirsch's reflection on monthly intention-setting*, and it sparked a deeper contemplation about how this practice aligns perfectly with meditation and mindful living.
The Power of Monthly Renewal
Why wait for January to reset our compass? Each month offers a natural checkpoint, a gentle invitation to realign with our true selves. At Bayside Meditation, we've observed how this monthly rhythm creates a more sustainable path to transformation than the often overwhelming annual resolutions.

## Beyond Lists: Deep Listening
While Kirsch speaks of Away/Toward lists and monthly check-ins, meditation offers us tools to dive even deeper. Through our practice, we learn to listen to the whispers of our inner wisdom – those subtle nudges that often get drowned out by the daily cacophony of must-dos and should-haves.
A Marriage of Intention and Presence
Here's where meditation and monthly intention-setting create a powerful synergy:
Your meditation practice becomes the quiet space where authentic intentions naturally arise. Instead of forcing goals from the thinking mind, you allow them to emerge from a place of deep knowing. These intentions tend to be more aligned with your true nature, more sustainable, and more meaningful.

The Monthly Practice
Consider this approach as we begin February:
1. Start with Stillness
Begin your monthly intention-setting with a meditation session. Let your mind settle, like snow gradually falling on a winter landscape. From this quiet space, your true priorities often become startlingly clear.
2. Listen Before Writing
Before making any lists or setting any goals, spend time in receptive silence. What's trying to emerge? What gentle whispers have you been too busy to hear?
3. Integrate Mind and Heart
As you set your monthly intentions, notice if they're coming from external pressures or internal wisdom. Our meditation practice helps us distinguish between the two.
Beyond "More" and "Less"
While Kirsch mentions More/Less and In/Out lists, through meditation we can access a deeper way of engaging with these concepts:
- Instead of "More productivity," perhaps we hear "More presence"
- Rather than "Less social media," we might discover "Less resistance to what is"
- Beyond "More exercise," we might find "More harmony with my body"

A Living Practice
At Bayside Meditation, we encourage treating each month as a mini-journey. Your monthly intentions become meditation objects themselves – not rigid goals to achieve, but gentle companions in your practice of awakening.
The Art of Monthly Reflection
As each month draws to a close, our meditation practice offers a sacred space to reflect without judgment. How did your intentions serve you? What did they teach you about yourself? This isn't about success or failure – it's about deepening your understanding of your true nature.
February's Invitation
As we step into February, consider this invitation: Combine the power of monthly intention-setting with the depth of meditation practice. Let each month become not just a page on the calendar, but a fresh opportunity to align more closely with your authentic self.
A Practical Framework
1. Set aside time on the first of each month for a longer meditation session
2. Journal from this space of clarity
3. Create your monthly intentions not from should, but from inner wisdom
4. Use daily meditation to stay connected to these intentions
5. End the month with a reflection session

The Deeper Journey
Remember, this isn't about adding another task to your list. It's about creating space for your true self to emerge and guide your journey. As Kirsch notes, it's about remembering that life isn't just about "the things to be done" but about "who you are and who you'd like to be."
Through regular meditation practice at Bayside, combined with mindful monthly intention-setting, you create a rhythm of renewal that keeps you connected to your deepest truth. Each month becomes not just a measure of time, but a doorway to deeper awakening.
As February unfolds, we invite you to explore this marriage of monthly intention-setting and meditation. Visit Bayside Meditation to learn how our practice can support your journey of monthly renewal and continuous awakening.
*Reference article :
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