I think it’s really important to set an intention for each day. Doing so can be an effective way of setting yourself up for success. For me, it helps to make this a daily practice.

This involves responding to a daily calendar reminder that prompts me to answer the question, “Who am I committed to being?”

Seeing this question prompts me to take a pen and paper, and write down who I am committed to being that day. Today I am committed to being happy.

When I set such an intention for myself, I am committing myself to not put my happiness in the hands of anyone or anything. I am the only person who can truly make me happy.

With this commitment, I am also setting an intention for my actions. I can’t say that I am committed to being happy, but then spend my day seeking validation from others to make me feel better about myself. That’s not being true to my intention.

The purpose of this strategy is to provide an opportunity to push pause, and take a moment to be mindful about approaching the day. Give it a try.

Originally published at medium.com