This is the second part of a series of posts. See Part One here.
Through the skilful cultivation of intention, you learn to make goals that are important to you and how to work hard toward achieving them.
Intentions are the road maps to goals. The goal is the destination, but intentions speak to the route you’re going to take towards it. How you are going to go about reaching your destination. Intentions marry your purpose,- why this is important to you – with your target.
Intentions are about who you are – they are part of you, extensions of who you are. Intentions are about how you express internal values, integrity and identity into the world outside of you.
Intentions reflect who you are now and how you show up in the world. Goals are about the future.
Deciding your intentions means you choose how you are going to honour who you are currently, and continue to honour your true values, as you move forward.
Intentions help you manage the transition between the present – where you are at and what is happening within you – to the future you.
Let’s look at an example of what this might look like in practice.
Example 1
For the sake of levity, let’s assume your goal is to visit Timbuktu.
Your plans will involve exploring what your budget will be, what method of transport you are going to use, considering if you will travel with others, finding out what visas you will need, investigating what you want to see, do, eat and drink when you are there.
Your intentions may sound something like: I am going to approach saving towards my trip as an adventure in itself. I am going to use my love of board games and tackle looking for ways that I can save money as a game that I can enjoy.
Example 2
Perhaps your goal is to lose weight/exercise more/become healthier in some way.
Your plans may include shopping for more fruits and veg, joining a gym and such.
Your intentions may include reminding yourself that you are learning and practising new behaviours and that it takes time to learn something; whether that is eating a nutritious breakfast or learning how to run 5kms. You may also consider setting an intention of being kind and compassionate with yourself during this journey. Perhaps a great intention for you to set for yourself if to remind yourself that you don’t have to be perfect to achieve and start every day by reminding yourself of something you achieved in the past.
Intentions allow room to consider context – the context of your life, where you find yourself and where you have come from.
Intentions decide the frame of mind and viewpoint you will take as you progress towards your goal.
This is the second part of a series of posts. See Part Three here.
A change in perspective can be life-changing! Reach out now to find your joy again!
