You may have heard self-help gurus tout "the power of intention" -- declaring
what you want and then taking action to achieve it.
It all sounds great, but actually getting what you want is often a lot more
difficult than it seems.
How can you learn more about intention? An easy yet profound way is to
simply observe the workings of your own mind.
In their book Simple Meditation & Relaxation, Joel and Michelle Levey give
this guidance on how to investigate your own power of intention:
"Once you have become
familiar with recognizing your thoughts and feelings as they arise, you will be able to
see that prior to every voluntary action there is a mental intention. Becoming more
mindful of your intentions will strengthen your mindfulness in action. This is a very
powerful way to learn more about how your mind works. For example, when you're driving, be
watchful for how your intention to change lanes, turn left or right, or slow down or speed
up precedes your actual actions."
"Begin now to notice the
intending phase of your experience. Mentally note the intention to stand up before getting
off a chair; the intention to reach out before you open a door. Note the intention to
move, to stop, to speak, to turn, to speed up or slow down, to be harsh, or to be
kind."
"By developing mindfulness of
intention, we can develop greater power for creative choice, for seeing a whole new range
of options that we hadn't seen before and that are available to us in spite of the
habitual and highly conditioned mode most of us live in. As you develop this insight into
the often unconscious and habitual impulses that direct your behavior, you will discover
even greater freedom and power to choose both what you do and how you do it."
Take a few moments this week to notice how intention works in your own mind.
