Intentions of Least Resistance

Certain Intentions Almost Create Themselves

Your hearts Desire or What You Can Have?

How you define intentions can make a huge difference to your success.  Energize intentions by defining them in such a way that the path of least resistance is to achieve your desire.

Do you plan to achieve what your heart desires?   Or are you pursuing what you think you can have? 

This is more than just semantics.  The thought of your heart’s desire is exciting, full of energy. The thought of what you think you can have may be far less exciting or even a bit frustrating. 

What You Would Love to Experience or What You Want to Avoid?

Do you cherish a vision of vibrant health and take healthy actions, or do you take multiple blood pressure readings? Do you intend to have what you would truly love or do you intend to have a problem solved?

Pursuing your end result of health may have intermediate steps, but the ultimate purpose is to be healthy, feel vibrant, function well. It’s not to lower your blood pressure, repair you knees, or heal your disorder.

Intending that your feet feel good sends the mind to the possibility that your feet will not feel good. A problem solved

Instead, what would you love? Would you enjoy walking along the river? Would you be delighted to dance at the pub?

The intention should draw your focus to how it will be to achieve the healthy result. That is, simply, what you want, not what you don’t want.

This is far more than just a choice of words. The motivation is important. You may want to preserve women’s rights but be motivated to oppose sexism. The focus is very different. Does your attention seek evidence of sexism instead of the creation of equality? If you intend a world in which women are equal, you really wouldn’t think about equality. You might think about succeeding in the market, on the playing field in a workplace.

The way you think about your intentions and plans can take your breath away or take your energy away.  This important distinction dramatically affects what you can accomplish.  It radically affects how much you enjoy what you do every day.

Go After Your Wildest Dreams - Yes Really!

When setting intentions, start with what truly inspires you, even if you fear you might fail.  You are farther ahead failing at what you truly want than failing at something you didn’t really care about or failing at opposing something you don’t like. Failing at what you care about might be enjoyable. You are probably motivated to try again.

Failing at what you don’t care about is draining. Failing to oppose what you don’t like is very demoralizing. But don’t intend to fail either!

Your dreams may seem big, but they bring big energy with them. It really doesn’t work to aim lower though it seems safe. Honestly, going for what you love is not about safety

Say I would like to sing in a festival chorus, but I have lost my range so I don't audition.  I don’t sing at all and feel sad every time I hear choral music.  I end up with less of what I love in my life! Much better to audition twice and practice more if necessary to eventually sing with that chorus!

Be Honest About What You Love and Want

There is a natural tendency to avoid what you truly, truly want.  You might even go completely unconscious about those dreams for many reasons.  What if you don’t succeed?

What will people say? People will tell you, without even being asked, that you cannot have what you really want.  You may well tell yourself you cannot have it and quickly back down to an intention that seems more reasonable, maybe even something super easy.

When you desire something new, it is unknown whether you can accomplish it or even how.  It’s instantly frightening.  Allow yourself to not know.

Not knowing the answer or the outcome creates a vacuum for creativity.

Diluted Dreams are Lousy Motivators

I’d like to meet someone and share a loving relationship, but, you know, I’d be ok with just having someone to go out to dinner with. 

Folk singing a cappella would be fun but finding others to sing with might be humiliating and my voice is old.  I know!  First, I’ll take singing lessons for at least a year.  

What do you really, really want?  Head directly toward that!  Take only the detours required. Going a different direction wastes a lot of energy. 

When you find the guy who’s just a dinner date.  He treats you like just a dinner date and you resent it.  The singing teacher quickly depletes your fun money and wants you to sing jazz.

Don’t give yourself a vote of no confidence right from the start.  And, for God’s sake, please don’t do this to your children. One of the most intelligent people I know was told by a parent that she would never be admitted to the college of her choice! Take second choice only if it becomes first choice. Don’t start there!

Start At the Top

What would you do, be or have it there were no limits and you were certain to succeed?  I challenge you right now to stop and write down five of these things.  Write them!  Seriously, do it now! There is a reason this effort will help you.

Then stop.  Don’t allow yourself to change the Ferrari to a Little Tikes car.  A coaching certification is not the same as the divinity degree.  Simply acknowledge what you truly want. It’s only an exercise, afterall.

How do those desires make you feel?  What you love has wonderful energy.  Pursuing it is satisfying even if you fail.  You will love the people you meet.  The fear dissipates once you take action.    

Starting at the top starts you off on a hero’s journey. It may take you to your dream or you may find that your dream was different than you thought, but you almost never end up where you thought you had to settle for less!

Simply this:

Intend something you would love to experience. Love is like rocket fuel for creation!

Intend to create for yourself only. Not for other people.

Do not solve problems. What would it be like if you had no past and the problem didn’t exist.

Create the end result. Create the house. Not the money for a house. Create the beautiful clothes and not the means to buy them.

Focus on WHAT and not How.

Simply Allow Yourself to Know What You Would Really Love

It might not turn out as you hoped.  

It could turn out far better than you dreamed!

Hint: The people I’ve known who admitted their fondest dreams to themselves, accomplished those dreams.