What are your intentions?

Usually, this is something that a future father in law will ask a nervous son in law candidate; but in reality, it is something that we should often ask ourselves if we want to live happier and fulfilled lives. There is a big difference between having a clear intention when we do something, or not having one, so let’s see what it means to have clear intentions.

To set up our intention means to have well defined the objective that we are pursuing in doing something. For instance, if we are studying, we can study with the intention of passing a test, the intention of learning, or both. It is also possible that we are studying because it is what we supposed to do in that moment, and therefore it is done without real intention. When we are starting to do something, the fact that we think about it for a few seconds, about our purpose and the desired outcome, is going to make a clear difference in the result as well as in the process. It is like shooting a gun without aiming, or starting a trip without planning where are we going. The lack of intentionality is a sure and fast way to arrive in Disaster Ville.

Every day we do a number of things, many of them automatic, like going to the gym, to work, shopping, making dinner or even making love. When I say automatic, I don’t mean that are meaningless or mechanic, I just infer that, because they are something routine, we forget to consider their purpose. The importance of these acts lies in their frequency, and in the fact that most of them are related to basic aspect of life, like surviving or taking care of our health. When we are conscious of the intention behind them, we find added benefits; among these:

1.- Results are usually better.

2.- We are more aware of potential hazards or self boycotts regarding what we do.

3.- It is easier to avoid sadness and boredom that sometimes come with routine activity.

4.- It gives us an opportunity to understand and reconsider our intention in more relevant perspectives.

Obviously, if we can improve what we do every day, our life will improve. Therein lies the importance of intentionality.

Let’s look a practical example: I am preparing a weekly menu at home. If, when I start, I set up my intention to plan food that is balanced and healthy over other considerations, it is most likely that the dishes that come to mind will fall into those categories. If my intention is for impressing as a cook or pleasing somebody, the options that will come to my mind will probably be more elaborate or richer in variety. If I am doing the plan in a rush just because I know it is convenient to have it done, but without setting up any intention, probably I will write down my favorite foods or whatever is easier for me to do. The quality of the intention will determine the quality of the outcome.

Let’s see yet another example, this one familiar also (unless any of my readers have made a vow of chastity), but more pleasant: our intention when we make love. Behind the obvious reasons of having an intimate encounter with our partner, we can set up our clear intention; for instance, to have a soul union, or to have a synchronization at an energetic level. The encounter, then, becomes a strong tool to reinforce the couple’s union, so it becomes more transcendent and more interesting. Or just make your intent that the encounter is the longest of the year, or the less noisy… in those cases will not be so transcendent, but definitely funnier (transcendence is overrated, anyway)

We are often in the position of making decisions that are not a part of our daily routine, but it will determine how our life will develop. The more variables there are to consider, and the more people involved, the more difficult is to make a decision. To choose a job, a house, a partner, or to make important personal or professional decisions, can be made easier simply by setting up our intention. When our intention is clear and positive, decisions are easier because what we do is focus in what is more important, thus being more selective. Results then will be more in tune with our objective. To end with the examples, lets lighten up and see what can happen when we set up our intention before we go shopping:

Without setting our intention: we buy a pair of jeans that we love, and we have to go back and return them because what we really needed was a party dress for next week.

With the intention of been practical: we go directly for the party dress, and we also choose the bag with a discrete label, so we can return it later.

With the intention of taking the blues away: we go to a very expensive boutique, and we buy the dress, the shoes and the clutch. From there, we go to the hairdresser.

With the intention of passing the afternoon: we call a friend, we try on party dresses, working suits, coats, shoes and hats, but we don’t buy anything.

In conclusion, to set up our intention clearly before doing anything, helps to obtain results that are more in tune with what we want. We find what we focus our attention on. Just in case anybody is curious why or how that happens, the (simplified) reason is as follows: as we stated on previous occasions, we are energy living in an energy sea, and in constant interaction with it. At this level, unlike what happens with electronics, equal attracts equal. Feelings (intention is a feeling) are real and tangible energy fields, able to produce effects in a physical word, therefore, when we make something with intention, we are putting huge additional power into what we are doing. Our intention resonates with that part of the universe with a similar vibration (which is the sea of energy we are in) and by resonance, it gets greatly amplified. For example, did you ever brake one of those old mercury thermometers? I did, and I remember the tiny drops of liquid metal getting together as if they could recognize each other.

Similarly, we can imagine that we have a huge magnet, and we selectively attract, without any effort, only the metal pieces in a gigantic well with many different elements. Without the magnet, it will be much more difficult to find them and pick them up. The power of the intention is like the power of the magnet. When we set our intention upon what we do, we amplify the power of attracting the result that we want.

I hope you enjoyed exploring this concept. It is fun, practical, and it will only take a few seconds every time. Before doing or deciding anything, just be clear of what is your intention. Then, tell me the difference that this makes in your lives.

Helena Aramendia. Allowed the partial or total reproduction of the article as long as the author and source are mentioned.