Let’s be honest: most goals don’t fail because we don’t want them badly enough. They fail because life happens… loudly.
Emails multiply. Calendars fill. Motivation ghosts us sometime around February.
That’s why I don’t just set goals anymore—I set intentions. And then, because I like structure and novelty, I turn them into a BINGO board.
Yes. BINGO. The same game your 4th grade teacher loved—except this one is for becoming your best self.
Goals Are Fine. Intentions Are Better.
Goals answer the question: What do I want to do?
Intentions answer the much more important question: Who do I want to be while I’m doing it?
Stephen Covey said it best:
“To begin with the end in mind means to start with a clear understanding of your destination.”
Covey wasn’t just talking about productivity—he was talking about values. Research consistently shows that when people have clarity of purpose, they experience higher motivation, stronger follow-through, and greater satisfaction with their work and lives.
Brené Brown’s research reinforces this idea. She reminds us:
“If we don’t get clear on our values, we’ll spend our lives living into other people’s values.”
Translation? Without intentions, we default to reacting instead of choosing.
And James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, adds the identity piece:
“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.”
That’s the magic of intentions—they tie daily actions to identity, not just outcomes.
The Calm Before the Calendar Chaos
Once a year, I take one intentional evening. No rushing. No multitasking. No pretending I’ll “circle back to it later.”
I start with reflection:
- What do I want more of this year?
- What would actually make my life better (not just busier)?
- What kind of person do I want to be becoming?
Then I divide my year into monthly intentions, each focused on growth, care, or curiosity.
Some examples:
- Training for a 10K (because apparently I enjoy voluntary struggle)
- Leaning into hygge and rest
- A full house reset (aka reclaiming my cabinets)
- Exploring herbalism and learning something completely new
Each month has a theme—not because I need another system, but because focus reduces decision fatigue. Research backs this up: fewer competing priorities = better follow-through.
Enter the BINGO Board
Once my monthly intentions are clear, I turn them into SMART, tangible goals.
Those goals become the squares on my BINGO board.
Here’s how it works:
- Each square = one specific action tied to an intention
- The board goes into a picture frame (because visibility matters)
- As goals are completed, I cross them off
- Every BINGO—row, column, or diagonal—gets celebrated
- The ultimate dream? A full blackout
Why does this work?
Psychological research shows that:
- Writing goals down increases completion rates
- Visual tracking boosts motivation
- Celebrating small wins increases dopamine and persistence
Or, as James Clear would say: progress you can see is progress you’ll stick with.
My Framed Bingo Board
Why This Beats Traditional Goal-Setting
The BINGO board does what most goal lists don’t:
- It gamifies growth (turns effort into something oddly fun)
- It honors small wins, not just big milestones
- It allows flexibility—because life refuses to be linear
- It keeps intentions visible instead of buried in a planner graveyard
Most importantly, it replaces pressure with momentum.
Brené Brown reminds us:
“We don’t have to do it all alone. We were never meant to.”
Celebration—yes, even quiet, personal celebration—matters.
Celebrating BINGOs (and Becoming)
Every BINGO is a pause moment. A reminder that effort counts. Consistency counts. Showing up counts.
And here’s the truth: I don’t always hit a full blackout.
But the year still works—because the real win isn’t perfection. It’s intention.
Intentions turn a year into a story instead of a checklist.
Your Turn
If your goals keep falling flat, try this instead:
- Choose monthly intentions that support who you want to become
- Turn them into small, doable goals
- Put them on a BINGO board
- Display it where you’ll actually see it
- Celebrate every win—no matter how small
You don’t need more discipline. You need clarity, intention, and a system that makes growth feel human.
So tell me—what would be on your BINGO board this year?
seek flourish bloom 