An intention statement is essentially a written expression of your intention. When you write something down, it forces you to reflect on how to express it. Similarly, it gives you the ability to explore what you really mean.

An intention statement can increase accountability, help you understand yourself on a deeper level, and (crucially) reinforce your belief in your own potential.

Good intention statements are typically brief, extremely clear, and inspiring. They often make reference to a new way of being rather than just a specific goal.

Once written down, they can be used as affirmations (i.e. spoken statements that you repeat to yourself or choose to display in prominent areas).

When writing intentions, try not to get too stressed out about the idea of “getting it right” (as this immediately imbues the activity with a kind of negativity).

Instead, view yourself as playing around with different forms of expression. Plus, give yourself permission to keep trying until an intention statement just feels right.

As you work on your intention statement, try to refer to the following seven tips that will help you get the most out of this type of self-development process. As we go through the tips, we'll also look at examples that you can then adjust to suit your own purposes.