What is your intention?

For this post, I am going to share with you lesson 2 from my upcoming book, “Engage, Connect, Grow – 52 lessons to guide individuals and corporate to get to the heart of what truly matters to them.“ The book will be available in the Fall of 2017.

It has taken me many years to fully understand how to articulate my intention.

Over the years, I have learned my goal or intention should be experience-based. What does it feel like, look like, sound like? It should not be a thing, such as a material object. It should be focused on ultimately what I am seeking by having the material object.

Your intention will always be something you can come back to especially when struggles arise and also when decisions need to be made.

You can remember where you want your focus to be and bring your attention there versus focusing on fear.

Below you can read two very different journals entries and see the transition of my own intention.

This is a journal entry I wrote related to what I wanted in 1998.

I want to be recognized,

I want to be heard,

Can you see me? I’m over here.

I want to be recognized,

I want to be heard,

I want to be recognized

and seen all over the world.

I want to be recognized,

I want to be seen,

How hard can it be?

What do I need to prove?

How long does it take?

I don’t want to have to wait.

I can see my reflection, so I am for real,

Maybe I don’t want to be recognized,

Maybe I already have been, By me.

The waiting should end for I have been recognized by the most important person of all, myself.

 

Here is another journal entry about my intention sixteen years later.

April 25, 2014, 9:14 p.m.

What do I want?

My intention is to open my soul, mind, & body

to what it is I truly want.

Rest

Peace

Joy

Loving relationship

Family

Authenticity

Solid

Openness

Unconditional love

Freedom

Exercise for You

You can start writing about your intention by writing what you want. Next write about what you will be feeling and experiencing if you get what you want. Write that feeling and experience as your intention or goal. Describe your goal or intention in a few words or a short sentence. Focus on the experience you want to have versus the thing itself, for example, “Peace and Joy” versus “Travelling to an exotic place.”

1. What is the thing you actually want in your life?
2. What will you be feeling and experiencing if you get what you want?
3. Describe your goal or intention.
4. What would you experience if you accomplished your intention?
5. What does it feel like, look like, sound like?

Exercise for Your Team or Group

1. You can have the team members share their personal goal or intention if people are open to it. Write out what they share.
2. Describe the team goal or intention in a few words or short sentence. Focus on the experience the team wants to have versus the thing itself.
3. Have a discussion about what this team or group actually wants to accomplish.
4. What does the intention feel like, look like, sound like?
5. What would the team or group experience if the intention were accomplished?

 

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