Here's my second post in the my "Lay the Foundation" series. Do you know what Intention is? Have you seen a practitioner use it or a teach talk about it and it simply slips over your head?
Intention is often spoken of but rarely given the attention it deserves. That’s because it’s not always easy to remember to pay attention to your intentions, especially when you’re busy and things are hectic. But that doesn’t mean we should give up trying.
Intention is too important to let slip away into the background of our lives, for it can be one of the most powerful tools we have for changing them.
Intention is defined as a fixed resolve or an aim toward which we direct our efforts. In other words, if you don’t set goals for yourself, then you won’t know where you are going in life and won’t be able to make progress.
Your intention statement needs to be specific, measurable, and most importantly, something that excites you in some way so that you can keep working towards it.
There are many ways that you can create an intention statement; here are a few of them:
Why It’s Important to Write Them Down
Writing down your intention can help you to clarify what you want, as well as help you to focus on it and make it real. Writing down your intention also has the added benefit of making it more permanent and less likely to be forgotten.
You can either write your intention on a piece of paper and place it in a special place, or write it in a journal. There are certain things journaling does that writing on a piece of paper does not. Journaling engages the whole person in the writing process. It engages the emotions, the intellect and the spirit.
Start With Why and What
These are some of the questions you can ask yourself to get more clarity on why you want to achieve your goal. Whenever you set a goal for yourself, always start with "why." And also ask yourself about "what."
- Why do you want to achieve this goal?
- What do you expect to get out of it?
- Why is it important to you?
- What is it going to do for you?
- How will it improve your life?
If you don’t know why you want something, chances are you won’t be able to sustain your efforts for long enough to achieve the result you want. You will likely get distracted by other shiny things that come along, feel like you’re not making enough progress, or get overly discouraged and give up.
Here are ten, high-level, general intention statements to get your creativity flowing, you can use these as starting points, or simply references to do the rest of the activity.
- I prioritize self-care and create more balance in my life.
- I invest in meaningful relationships that bring out the best in me.
- I will stay committed to my personal growth and development.
- I will practice gratitude and appreciate what I have.
- I am not afraid to take risks and pursue my dreams.
- I can stay focused and accomplish tasks with excellence.
- I will be kind and compassionate to myself and others.
- I trust my instincts and be true to myself.
- I can live a life of integrity and authenticity.
- I will take an active role in creating the life I desire.
Create a Vision
A vision is a focused statement of what you want your life to look like in the future. It is as if you’re creating an image of your desired future in your mind so that you can see it and feel it as if it is already real. Your vision statement can be in the form of a few words, a short paragraph, or even a detailed essay that’s been written out.
A vision can be thought of as a bridge between where you are now and where you want to go. It is your way of giving your future a real and concrete form in your imagination. Your vision should be positive and inspiring, and include things like where you want to live, who you want to be, and what you want to do, and have a sense of excitement and enthusiasm about it.
Define Your Dreams
Dreams are what you wish for, whereas goals are what you plan to do. Dreams are what you would like to happen, whereas goals are what you are going to do.
Dreams are what you want, whereas goals are what you’re going to do. They are the things that are important to you in life, what you would like to accomplish, and what you want to become.
Goals are specific, whereas dreams are more general. Goals are about action, whereas dreams are about inspiration. Goals are about what you can control, whereas dreams are about what you cannot control.
Write out your desired outcome
If you have a specific goal in mind, then you can create an intention statement around it. An example of an intention statement might be:
"I want to be debt free within the next 5 years."
By writing out your desired outcome, you can make your intention more specific and measurable. An example of an intention statement using the above-desired outcome would be:
"In 5 years, I will be debt free and be saving for a house."
Now that you have your desired outcome written out, it’s time to break it down even further. Break down each part of your desired outcome into smaller parts.
For example, if your desired outcome is to be debt free, then write down what exactly that means to you. What does debt-free mean to you?
Take it a step further
Now that you have your desired outcome written down, it’s time to break it down even further. Break down each part of your desired outcome into smaller parts. For example, if your desired outcome is to be debt free, then write down what exactly that means to you
- What does debt-free mean to you?
- Does it mean that you don’t have any debts?
- If so, then write down how much you owe and to whom. What does it mean to be debt free?
- Does it mean that you don’t owe any money to anyone, or does it mean that you are in a position where you can pay it back if you want to?
Meditate and pay attention to what comes up
Pay attention to the thoughts, feelings and images that come up when you meditate on the words of your intention. Sometimes, the words that you select for your intention will trigger different emotions and thoughts within you and can help you to get in touch with what’s really important to you.
If you’re having trouble meditating on your intention, you can always write it down on a piece of paper and look at it while you are meditating. Also, if some of the words are triggering emotions, I encourage you to sit with the emotions and feelings and explore them in your journal.
By making an intention statement and committing to it, you are more likely to live a life that brings you joy.
When you make an intention statement, you clarify what you want, why you want it, and how you’ll get it. You put words to your dreams, hopes, and desires so that they become real.
Once you make your intention statement, you are more likely to take action toward achieving your goals and dreams. When you commit to a specific intention, you make room for new opportunities, relationships, and experiences to come into your life.
And most importantly, by making an intention statement and committing to it, you are more likely to live a life that brings you joy, as joy is defined by your personal goals, values, and dreams. Not other people’s.
