In yoga, we’re encouraged to start a daily practice of asana (poses) and meditation at home, as a worthwhile addition to the weekly group class or DVD many of us start off with. One aspect of my daily practice that’s been especially helpful in my “other” practice (the law practice, that is) is the repetition of a mantra that reminds me of my daily intention.

Setting an intention for the day is not the same thing as establishing goals or having a to-do list. An intention is broader than a task, more global than a goal. Some examples from my own life and practice(s):

• Today, I listen with compassion to all with whom I interact today.
• I wait to draw conclusions until I have all the information I need. Until then, I am comfortable in the spaces in between the answers.
• Just for this day, I am nonreactive in the face of fear and anxiety. Today, instead, I let those feelings happen without engaging, stifling, ignoring, or acting on them.

Intentions can also be single words or short phrases that describe a quality, trait, or habit that you’d like to work on or develop. Examples:

• Find joy
• Patience with others
• Mindfulness

Another option to help you set an intention for the day is what’s called a gatha (mindfulness verse). Here’s one from Yoga Journal‘s daily insight emails, designed to help you stay equanimous in the face of stress and change: “Great is the matter of birth and death; impermanence surrounds us. Be awake each moment; do not waste your life.”