Halfway There, Fully Present
The Midyear Turn
Last week I sat down to do my own midyear review. Six months in, six months left. As I reflected on my goal of completing my advanced coaching program and earning my International Coaching Federation credential, I noticed something surprising.
I had been focused on the finish line, and I had lost focus on who I wanted to be along the way. I found myself stressed by the number of required coaching hours, instead of simply showing up curious and present for the person in front of me. The goal was intact. The way I was pursuing it was not.
That is the moment that reminded me why intentions matter as much as goals.
Goals Focus Your Effort. Intentions Guide Your Identity.
A goal is a destination. It's specific, measurable, and time bound. Maybe your goal is finishing a major project, improving access for your patients, completing your clinical documentation before leaving work, or protecting one evening each week for yourself or your family.
An intention is different. It is the way you choose to show up and the values you hold while you pursue that goal.
Goals answer the question: What am I trying to accomplish?
Intentions answers: Who do I want to be while I accomplish it?
A goal without an intention can become a checklist that leaves you feeling empty—even when you succeed. An intention without a goal can leave you inspired but without direction.
Together, they create both impact and purpose.
A Tool for This Week
Take a few minutes to reflect on these two questions:
What outcome am I working toward this month?
Who do I want to be while I pursue it?
Then ask yourself:
What thought will support me? If you are stuck, consider something like “If I can do X, then I can do this too.” When you notice that something feels like something else, it becomes easier to do the something else.
What feelings do I want to lead with? (Grounded. Courageous. Curious. Calm…)
And then, what action would I take today if I already felt that way?
When unhelpful thoughts inevitably appear, you don't have to argue with them. Notice them, let them pass, and choose your next small action step anyway.
This Week’s Practice:
Define one meaningful outcome (goal).
Write one intention statement for how you want to show up.
Block time on your calendar to take one meaningful step.
Name three thoughts or feelings that will guide your actions this week.
The middle of the year isn't a verdict. It is simply a checkpoint. You get to choose—again—how you want to move through the second half of the year.
This Week's Reflection
What if success this month isn't just measured by what you accomplish, but by how you choose to show up?
Before you begin your week, complete these two sentences:
This month, I am working toward...
While I pursue it, I choose to be...
Then ask yourself each morning:
"What is one action that reflects both my goal and my intention today?"