If you're feeling overwhelmed in your personal or professional life, or just need clarification on what you want to achieve, it's time to start setting intentional goals. Achieving mental clarity can be challenging in today's fast-paced world. Still, with some focus, persistence, and continuous learning, you can get your head in the game and start working towards your goals.

So, where do you start? The first step to achieving mental clarity with intentional goal setting is to slow down your brain processor and quiet down the chatter in your head. This means turning your phone on to silent mode and placing it somewhere that is away from immediate reach. Go find a calm, peaceful space where you can sit comfortably and be in a state of relaxation. This aims to minimize distractions vying for your attention, such as social media notifications that clutter your mental space. By decluttering your environment and cutting out unnecessary interruptions, you can create a sense of harmony and focus that will help you think more clearly.

Once you've cleared your head, it's time to start thinking about what you want to achieve. This involves both zooming in and zooming out. Zooming in means focusing on the details of your goals and breaking them down into smaller, more manageable steps. Zooming out means taking a step back and looking at the bigger picture. Life is not linear, so exploring possibilities in this phase requires critical thinking and dynamic examination. This can entail imagining about 6 months to 10 years to 100 years into your future, envisioning your life and your legacy.Consider it from different angles to draw out different perspectives and potential outcomes. If fear and limitations creep in, simply acknowledge it and put it in a parking lot for later. Exploring what you want to achieve can provide inspiration, excitement, and hope. 

When you're ready, let's start putting pen to paper. This aims to connect the mind with the body. Write down everything that comes to mind, no matter how big or small. This can help you better understand what you're genuinely passionate about and what you want to achieve. From there, you can start to narrow down your goals and create a plan of action. Another helpful tip is to set SMART goals. SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. By setting goals that meet these criteria, you can increase your chances of success. You can work up a plan by going backward from your desired future self or going forward from where you are today. There is no right way to goal setting - it's your own personal journey, so honor your needs and desires.

Finally, it's important to remember to be patient and persistent. Achieving mental clarity and setting intentional goals takes time and effort, and you may encounter setbacks along the way. Don't be afraid to get started again and again. With some discipline and trial and error, you can clear your head, understand what you want, outline how to get back what you want, and begin working towards your goals. Remember, the management of the self is your top responsibility, so take the time to check in with yourself regularly.