Week 2 - Intention

​“In the universe there in an un-measurable and indescribable force which those who live ‘of the source’ call intention – and that absolutely everything that exists in the entire cosmos is attached to by intent by a connecting link.” Carlos Castaneda
 
The second word in our series, Intention, has been described as an aim, objective or plan…for me in this conversation/reflection it is stronger than that…
When I live my life with intention, I am living on Purpose, living a life guided by those Beliefs and Values that are Meaningful for me, and my be-ing and my behaviours are aligned with my deeper self, rather than my ego self.
 
I have set goals, and achieved them, and yet I feel more deeply connected to my intentions – they seem to be things that I am drawn towards, rather than driven by…perhaps the goal setting is more related to my ego’s desires, and comes more from the head, whereas having an intention comes from a heart-centred space?
 
For me, living with intention is a Mindful way of living, where I can ask myself “what is my intention here” before I react to an event or a conversation as the day unfolds.  Simply asking myself this question seems to create a space between the event and my response to the event, and allows for a different response as opposed to an ego reaction or defensiveness.
 
When I reflect on this question…possible answers are “to be right” “to be heard” “to win” “to make sure they know that I know stuff” and these answers come from an ego which is hungry to be fed.  An alternative response could be “to seek understanding” “to be curious about why that person has responded that way” “to hear first what the other has said before presenting my thoughts” and these answers pave the way for greater harmony and peace in the long run, and actually are more aligned with my core values.
 
Living with Intention also means there are no accidents – only opportunities to learn, grow and find out more about myself and the world. Rather than seeing life as a haphazard series of happenings, I have always felt that life is unfolding as it’s supposed to, even when it doesn’t appear to be, and that I can either jump in and swim in the flow of life, or resist the flow and feel the drama. 
 
Setting an intention for each day provides us with a sense that we can steer ourselves towards those places and people we are attracted to, trimming the sails mindfully with intention.  It is an intention to be present, centred, and allow the space to connect with the others around us.
 
It is Be-ing the Change we wish to see around us.
It is non-judgement, acceptance.
It is practising gratitude.
It represents the possibilities that exist when we can re-frame the events of life, and develop a trust in the flow, in the Universe, God, or Source Energy (insert your own word here if you wish).
 
It is activating our life beyond the ego (E.G.O. could be shown as Edging God Out!) and aligning ourselves with our Sacred Self.
 
What do we do on a practical level to live with intention?
That depends on your preferred mode of re-connecting…
Perhaps allowing space in your day for imagining / visualising / contemplation
Others may wish to write / draw / speak their intentions
Sometimes it can help to look for examples in the role-modelling of how others live their lives – reading autobiographies or watching movies/docos of people we are inspired by can help.
 
I have found it helpful to do the Values In Action character strengths survey (see below) to help me to become clearer on what values are important and strong for me, and where I can strengthen some of the areas that are not my default areas, so that I can more easily respond than react to life, and accept the diversity of priorities. Consequently I become less in judgement of the way others respond to their lives according to their priorities.
 
Our intentions are deeply personal – they cannot be set by someone else – they are something we need to tune into and then act out in our daily life.
 
To intend, is to create – to co-create with the Universe and realise the power we have to make a difference by how we are Be-ing in our daily life, every moment of every day.
 
Intention is important when we are wanting to manifest things in our life – our Reticular Activating System in our brain will help us to see/perceive life with a certain openness to that which we are focussed on – and consequently if we are constantly complaining about a set of circumstances we will continue to perceive only that evidence which reinforces those circumstances – we need to be mindful of our mental habits and be willing to see other possibilities.  “As a person thinketh, so they are”.
 
I embrace a broad philosophy, and draw from many of the great Teachers of the Ages…I believe it is important to draw upon the Wisdom gained by those who have lived before us, and I am inspired by the words of Job 22:28 from the Old Testament “When you make a decision on something, it will be established for you, and light will brighten your way.”
 
Wayne Dyer quotes in his book The Power of Intention a message from Jesus of Nazareth about having a healing intention:
“If you bring forth what is inside you, what you bring forth will save you.
If you don’t bring forth what is inside you, what you don’t bring forth will destroy you.”
This is a very powerful statement on how important it is that we all sing our inner song, and live our life with intention.
 
Intention is also commitment – what is it that I am most committed to today?
“The moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too.  All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred…unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no one could have dreamed would have come their way.”  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
 
You and I can access the power that comes from Living with Intention, if we choose to use it.
Let us begin again, with intention and co-create an amazing world!
Yours in gratitude, Gabrielle
 
VIA Character Strengths Survey: www.viacharacter.org
The Power of Intention: Dr Wayne W Dyer