Imagine you are going on a family summer vacation. You book your flights and hotel rooms and have it all planned out. You begin to feel pressure to make the most of your trip because you are using your paid vacation days and spending your money on it. You can’t help but get angry when your flight is delayed. The day after you arrive, your kid is sleeping in late and you can’t get the family moving, and you miss your first activity. You feel your stress levels rising and you snap. Does this sound familiar? Sometimes we get so caught up in wanting things to go as planned that we forget the purpose of what we are doing. That’s why it can help to set intentions. Ask yourself, “What are my true intentions with what I am doing?” If you really think about your true intentions for going on vacation, it probably isn’t to pack in as many activities as possible. It’s probably to relax, enjoy time with family, and forget your worries for a little while. When you take time to think about your intentions, and call them to mind periodically, it can help you handle situations in a way that is better for you and those around you. For example, when you figure out your flight is delayed, but remember your intention is to relax rather than have everything go as scheduled, you may choose to sit back and read your book instead of getting upset. When your kid won’t get up in time for the family activity, if you remember your intention is to have a fun time with your family, then maybe you’ll just play a board game with your spouse while you let your kid sleep in. This can apply to all areas of life–when we really think about the true purpose of what we’re doing, we don’t sweat the small stuff as much, and we find better ways to achieve our true goals.