WOW Word-Of-the-Week #385: Intention
December 21, 2011 by Susan Clarke
Intention – a course of action that one intends to follow.
Is the life your living satisfying and fulfilling? Is there any part you would like to change? Are your personal and business relationships as harmonious as you would like?
I saved this S T E V E ‘ S….3 – M I N U T E…. C O A C H I N G and think it’s a very timely and profound message. He writes, “Occasionally you hear, ‘I’ve set an intention.’ Or, ‘I have a powerful intention.’ Or, ‘My intention is strong.’ Or even, ‘The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.’ In this light intentions sound like something you do, actions on your part. There’s another view.
“Intentions simply are. They are to be discovered, not set, played with, not labored over. Intentions serve you rather than the other way around. If this is so, what sort of shift might you make? And why would you? “
“Where do intentions come from? They come from a soft, gentle, quiet place. They come from your life purpose, your journey, the why-you’re-here place.”
“Can you make an intention up and then work at it really hard? Sure. But that’s probably based on some unmet need, a perceived ‘missing’ in your life, or some other feeling of not having enough. You’re using an intention to try to accomplish something which may not even be related to what your life is really about. Visit with some old people to learn the wisdom of this. They tell stories of efforting toward what turned out to be empty outcomes.”
“A real intention is much cleaner than that. And simpler. Intentions come from your future, the unfoldment of your journey. Intentions pull you toward them. Intentions encourage.”
“Useful goals, desires, and objectives each probably have an embedded intention. Discover the intention within and let it guide.”
“Coaching Point: Have you yet learned to listen to the soft voice of your intentions?”
Copyright 2011 Steve Straus. All rights reserved
This time of year can be stressful with all of the business and social commitments. My intention is to have them be as harmonious as possible! This week’s focus is on intention. Are your intentions serving you? Do you know what your life purpose is? What course of action do you intend to follow to make that happen?
Reader Responses
“My intention is to have Christmas dinner with 30 to 40 people at my house be as stress-free as possible. Thanks for “Word of the Week” and your thoughtful explanations that always have good intentions, and that sometimes lead to good intentions in others and by others.” – Elaine