When defining goals, you'll often find that "resolutions" have the same purpose as intentions. However, intentions are different from resolutions in that they come with a force behind them. Intentions are nurturing goals that you set with purpose and intention, which makes them more powerful. According to Dyer, people who practice recovery use their intention as a guide when making changes.
While a goal without a clear plan is unlikely to be met, "intentions" encourage people to look into the future and consider obstacles. These words prompt people to think about the process they must follow to achieve their goal. Often, these words require the person to take a deeper look at what the end result looks like and what makes it worthwhile. When people write down their intentions, they're more likely to succeed.
When people talk about their actions, they tend to use the terms intent and impact to distinguish between the two. Intent refers to the way a person thinks they're acting, while impact refers to how someone else perceives their actions. A common example of the difference between intent and impact is when a partner makes a lighthearted joke, but the impact is that he or she hurts their feelings.
Goal intentions, however, are more abstract and general than implementation intentions. Implementation intentions, on the other hand, focus on achieving the goal efficiently and effectively. The "If-then" plan focuses on a specific barrier that will need to be overcome in order for the goal to be reached. In other words, implementation intentions are more concrete and procedural and have a higher degree of external validity.
Interestingly, a study of Australian employees has shown that employee voice and intention to quit are negatively related to the outcome of a workplace conflict. Moreover, employee voice is associated with a higher likelihood of an employee remaining with the organization if a conflict is resolved. However, if employees perceive that their voice was heard, they are less likely to quit. This study is important because it highlights the benefits of listening to employees.
A similar concept applies to the question of "why" a particular behavior occurred in the first place. As such, it is important to distinguish the difference between resolutions and intentions in order to get the desired results. This approach reveals that people have a stronger sense of purpose than people who follow their goals with intentions. Intentions and resolutions are both valid ways to improve one's life, but they're different from each other.