An intention is a ‘purpose, design, aim or object; will, wish, desire, that which is intended,’ originating from the Latin intentio ‘a stretching out, straining, exertion, effort; attention’.
They can be good or bad – the ‘bad’ involving deliberate harm or wrongdoing towards others (the ‘negative’ form), and the ‘good’ (‘positive’ form) empowering people to follow and accomplish their dreams and goals.
Positive intentions are a pathway to manifesting desires or needs with the potential to transform your life for the better. For example, maybe you want to find your true soul mate? To be successful? Or maybe you just want to be healthy and happy? To create, make a discovery or invent something new? The possibilities are limitless.
So, the first steps are to find, and set, your intention. Perhaps you already have one or even several. If not, there are many ways to establish an intention; meditation, affirmations, contemplation, or visualization being the most common.
Having a clear intention is the secret to manifestation, and only restricted by your consciousness. However, an intention has a greater chance of success if the goal or wish is attuned to who you are, or what you can imagine becoming. Be positive, be determined, and above all, remain true to you.
For example, if you are a keen runner, and you want to run faster than Usain Bolt, you not only need to love running, but it would help if you had the potential to develop an athletic physique. You would also have to be prepared to train all hours, to take honest criticism, to learn from your failures; to develop a persistent will and strong desire to succeed, and none of this would be possible without first setting an intention.
Intentions come in all shapes and sizes. Here are some pointers designed to help you manifest your intention:
DISCOVER YOUR INTENTION
Whichever method you use, the first step is to identify a specific intention with a clear outcome. Follow your passions to find an authentic intention. Trust your inner wisdom and try not to worry what others think; just ensure that your goal resonates with you at multiple levels; mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
Be still, listen to your inner voice, and ask yourself questions such as:
- What am I good at?
- What do I do well?
- What pushes me to be better?
- How can I be my authentic self more often?
- What am I passionate about?
- What makes my heart sing?
- What do I love?
Ensure your intention is yours, not a duplicate of someone else’s, but your own. The best intention pathways tend to center on being, not having. So, make the primary focus who you can be, and what can you become, and then, the rewards will follow.
MAKE A COVENANT
Hold a sacred event on a specific date and time with candles and all the trimmings. Write down or record what you intend to accomplish. Repeat your intention aloud to reinforce it. Decide to take the necessary steps rather than reacting to random circumstances. You could wander through life waiting for opportunities, or you can use and follow the power of intention. The more often you refer to this, the more you will empower your sense of purpose.
NURTURE THE SEED
When you plant an intention and nurture it, it will grow, allowing the possibility of unimagined opportunities. Once you have created your intention, cherish it. Like a seed planted in the garden, feed it with regular reminders. Bring it to mind first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Imagine what it feels like to reach your intention. Imagine how it feels to have achieved the intention not in the future but now. What can you sense, feel, visualise, and imagine? Taste your intention.
DISCERN & LEARN
Honestly and frequently, ask yourself the following types of questions; Am I getting closer to fulfilling my intention? What still stands in my way? What more can I do? Is the opportunity of this moment in line with my intention, or does it compromise it? Am I following my moral compass? Keep an open mind so you can recognise and welcome opportunities throughout the day.
There have been times in the past when I used this process, and although I don’t claim to have a 100% success rate, the pathways which opened presented unexpected opportunities and new possibilities that were beyond my dreams.
Looking back, I realise that each authentic intention was interconnected, like links in a sacred chain, bringing me closer to knowing myself in the way I do today.
Setting an intention will help you understand yourself better, and making a clear goal you want to achieve gives you a better chance of reaching a successful outcome.
Following the intention process can relieve anxiety and boost self-confidence. It can profoundly change your life and world, so choose wisely, remain patient, and stick with it – you may be surprised to discover what happens, and where following your intention will take you.
Finding and following your intention will involve imagination and visualization, action and experience, but the process will benefit your wellbeing in so many ways.
Do you want to be the dream-maker of your own life story?
Then harness the power of intention.
Article by More to Life Elder – Jonathan Harrison – Author, Spiritual teacher, Musician and so much more.
Article published in More to Life – Edition 66
