Got Intentions?Life follows our thoughts, so when we don’t get specific and deliberate
with those thoughts, who knows where we’ll end up! It’s much more
powerful when we train our attention toward what we want, by setting the
intention for it in advance.
What’s An Intention?
An intention is simply “the act or instance of determining mentally upon
some action or result.” Dream Coach Marci Weider writes this about
intentions:
“A working definition for intention is: ‘to have in mind a purpose or plan, to direct the mind, to aim.’ Lacking intention, we sometimes stray without meaning or direction. But with it, all the forces of the universe can align to make even the most impossible, possible.”
I tell folks an intention is simply holding in mind what you want.
That’s what allows you to point your conscious awareness (your vehicle for
all creation) in the direction of what you would like to have or be or do.
In short, setting intentions is a good habit to get into!
Here are short and sweet steps for setting an intention. (Whether you
do it on the fly or create a more formal ritual for it, the important part
is that you do what feels best!)
On-the-Fly Intention Setting (for when you’re right
in the moment and don’t have a lot of advance prep time)
1) Focus your thought on the result or experience you want
2) Let it go
Could it get any easier? The only thing better than how simple it
is, is how effective you’ll find it! On-the-fly intention setting is
perfect for taking or making important calls, meeting new people, hosting or
attending an event, receiving some sort of service (restaurant dinner, car
in the shop, tax preparation), traveling, etc.
For times when you’re extra nervous or doubtful, or for things that feel
like a big deal, you might engage a more ritualized process for setting an
intention:
Formal Intention Setting
1) Write your intention down
2) Let it go
Alternatively, you could say it out loud instead of putting it in
writing. There’s something about the power of the written and spoken
word that are especially fun to invoke when it really counts.
Developing a habit or ritual around the process will increase its power for
you.
You can develop a ritual by keeping a particular journal where you write
intentions, or having a place (a box or drawer or even a book) where you
keep the papers you've written your intentions on.
Some choose to keep their written intentions in a place where they see them
regularly (bulletin board, bathroom mirror, wallet, etc.).
If you're speaking your intention instead of writing it, it's recommended to
get in a peaceful state before declaring it. If you choose to share it
with another person, be picky about who you let in on it to ensure you get
support instead of ridicule or doubt.
As far as how to word your intention, there’s no wrong way to do it, but I
recommend you play with various structures in order to find your rhythm –
then stick with what feels best. Some start an intention by addressing
their higher power, some start it with "I am," some simply say what's going
to happen. (That’s how I do it: “We have a great time, we’re totally
attracted to each other, he quickly makes it clear he wants to see me
again.”) Experiment, be creative, and pay attention for what "clicks"
for you.
When to Use It?
When is a good time to practice setting a deliberate intention? As
mentioned above, there’s no bad time to use it. Anytime you care about
what happens or simply want to ensure you get what you want is a great time
to get intentional.
In fact, I suspect most of us hold intentions more often than we realize.
The problem is those intentions aren’t usually conscious or deliberate or
pointing us in the direction of our desire.
For example, my sister-in-law recently went on a job interview that she
“knew” wouldn’t pay what she wanted. As she drove to her interview,
she imagined that they would probably like her, would probably want to hire
her, and could in no way possible afford her.
Guess what happened? No surprise she got exactly what she held in
mind.
By purposely setting an intention, we get a chance to redirect our thoughts
in ways that allow our desired end result to come to fruition. We get
out of our own way and stop sabotaging our happy endings!
As usual, though, don’t take my word for it. Put it to practice for
yourself and let me know how you like it!
More resources:
http://www.ehow.com/how_4764710_set-an-intention.html
If you're so inclined, please feel free to reproduce this article in full with proper author credit (that would be me, Jeannette Maw) and link back to Good Vibe Coaching. Thanks!
