In the quiet of winter, a tiny acorn lies nestled in rich, dark soil, brimming with potential. 

With the right care and intention, this humble seed will sprout in roughly 60 to 90 days. One day, it may even become a mighty oak. 

Visualizing this acorn is a favorite practice of mine as I sludge through the snowy path on my morning walk. It reminds me of an adage I have adapted as a mantra: “From little acorns, mighty oaks grow.” 

Of course, we’re not actually talking about trees here. But rather achievements. Dreams. Goals. 

And it’s so true. Sometimes, 90 days is all it takes to sprout a new accomplishment. I’ve used the 90-day guidance of the acorn many times. 

Every achievement or goal I’ve worked toward began with two things: a seed of intention and a decision to try. Investing energy and taking tiny action steps forward were the results of that seed. 

But lately, I’ve seen many people use the terms “goals” and “intentions” interchangeably on social media, but this isn’t the case.

An intention is distinctly different from a goal, but they complement each other. Let’s review the difference, why it matters, and how to achieve your lofty goal in as little as 90 days. 

Intentions Versus Goals 

Goals are specific, measurable outcomes and outputs. They’re your finish line, to-do checklist, and the tangible targets you set to mark your progress toward a pre-determined achievement. 

Some examples of goals:

• Run three miles today. 
• Complete a work project by Friday.
• Hit a monthly sales target.

Intentions reflect your values and the energy you want to bring to your efforts. They shape your actions, sharpen your focus, and align you with what matters while flowing with the natural rhythms of everyday life. 

Some intentions you might set would be:

• Move my body in a way that feels energizing.
• Approach this project with focus and creativity. If it’s not done by Friday, allow it to flow into next week. (Of course, if you have a deadline, you must prioritize your time, although you can still set an intention to “complete this project with creativity and joy by Friday.”)
• Prioritize connections with new people and stay open to opportunities. 

How To Add Intentions To Your Goals

It doesn’t have to be an either-or situation. You may need the structure of goal setting, but most likely, you could also benefit from the grace of intention setting.

With goals, things outside our control often limit us from achieving them, causing us to feel disheartened or even critical of ourselves. 

Intentions, on the other hand, are grounded in grace. They provide a flexible, forgiving framework that allows you to show up authentically, even when life doesn’t go as planned.

Composed of joyful ambitions and tiny actions needed to achieve those ambitions, goals focus on the what; intentions confirm the how and why. 

Here’s an example of adding intentions to your goal.

You want to land a role as an instructional designer at an ed-tech company (goal), so you come up with a plan (tiny steps) guided by intention:

1. Dedicate 10 minutes daily to learning Articulate 360 and approach it with curiosity and creativity.
2. Convert a classroom lesson plan into an engaging digital training module and have fun with it!
3. Schedule one informational interview with an ed-tech professional by Friday, approaching the conversation openly to build a genuine connection.

You may be asking, how does this make a difference? 

Here’s the big thing to know about intentionality: It carries energy, and that energy translates into how others perceive your work. 

Imagine you’re tasked with cooking dinner but dread it, so you wait until the last minute. Now, you’re doing it in a rush—just to get it done—tossing ingredients together without giving them much thought or time.  

Sure, they may be the right ingredients, but that chaotic energy can show in the final dish. Your final product might feel a bit disjointed or lack the flavors you were hoping for. 

But if you approach that same meal with care and presence—taking time to measure, season, and taste along the way—the love and attention you’ve put into it will come through. Those sharing the meal will feel the difference.

Intention adds invisible flavor to everything you do. 

Make Intention Setting Your Goal This Winter

While goals give us direction, they can sometimes feel rigid and unforgiving. Life throws curveballs—unexpected challenges, shifting priorities, or even low-energy days—and when we fall short of a goal, we can feel disappointed or defeated.

For example, if your goal is to run three miles today and you only manage one, you might feel like a failure. Having set an intention to move your body would allow you to acknowledge and celebrate that you laced up your sneakers and got out there!

Focusing solely on traditional goals makes it easy to get caught up in a cycle of “productivity for productivity’s sake.” We might achieve the goal, but we can lose sight of why we’re pursuing it—or worse, burn out along the way.

Intentions guide how you want to show up and why something matters to you. They’re a flexible framework rooted in your values. Adaptable and forgiving, they create space for grace, allowing you to honor your effort even if the outcome doesn’t look exactly as planned. 

This winter, allow intentions to serve as your guiding light. Let the intentions you set remind you that progress isn’t always linear. How you show up matters just as much as what you achieve. 

It’s time to start celebrating the sprouting your acorn is doing in the deep, dark soil, and stop punishing yourself for not being a mighty oak already. You’ll get there, one intentional step at a time. 

How I Can Help

At Flourish Careers, I believe your best career plan aligns with your best intentions, a belief that lies at the heart of everything I do.

It’s time to stop going through the motions in a career that no longer fulfills you. It’s time to stop doom-scrolling from a desk where you feel hopelessly stuck. 

Using a proven, heart-based framework and thought partnership, I help job seekers find their place in the world and find careers that light them up.
Get in touch to start nourishing a seed of intention today.