Most of us have a never-ending ‘to-do’ list, lots of things we need to do, want to do, think about doing. The list continues to grow, and grow, and grow. Each day we choose what we want to work on.
Tasks like I’ll write 2,000 words today, connect with 3 other authors, and review the speaking proposal give us a sense of purpose and structure for the day. All too often at the end of the day, we look back and judge ourselves for the things we did not finish, procrastinated on, or took too long to do {more on the art of realistic expectations in another post}.
To intend is to have a purpose or plan for something. Applying it to the energy of your day creates a container for you to take action from. It is a way to tune in to what you want to create rather than leaving it to chance. These small consistent acts can create significant change.
Each morning as I sip my coffee before I settle into meditation, I ponder what I want the energy of my day to be. Some mornings it’s peace that I most want, other days it’s productivity or perhaps ease and flow. I roll the feeling around in my mind. Will this support the things that are on my ‘to do’ list?
I get a sense of how it feels in my body. I notice any resistance, perhaps some tension somewhere in my body or some mental chatter saying ‘no way sweetie pie’, adjust as needed to minimize or resolve the resistance and set my intention.
It may seem odd to consciously choose the tone or feeling of your day. Many have told me if feels like they are putting the cart before the horse or limiting their options. Others think it’s just a waste of time. I see it differently.
When you use an intention to support the action of doing you’re adding an extra layer of support by activating the energetic blueprint. Setting an intention makes small changes in your brain chemistry, which allows for different connections to be made. This can help you get more done but more importantly, it can help you keep stress levels down.
Lynne McTaggart works with intention on a large scale. She has facilitated many intention experiments for peace, healing, and changes in water quality. Gathering a large group of people all focusing on the same intention at the same time she has recorded tangible results. Conscious intention is a powerful act.
My ritual is simple. In the beginning, I would write down my responses, now I just review it in my mind. It takes 2 -3 minutes. Feel free to use it for yourself or adapt it to suit your needs.
I bring to mind the top 3 tasks for the day and move through the following questions:
- What would best support me today?
- What does this feel like in my body?
- Is there resistance? Why/Where?
Next, I state the intention, out loud.
Here are a couple of mine from the past week
My intention today is to –
- have peace and flow throughout the day
- embrace uncertainty and allow myself to appreciate unexpected outcomes
- feel grounded and purposeful
- be productive and curious
- focus on the sights, sounds, and tastes of the day
I like to think of this type of intention as tuning my energy field to the radio station that is playing the music I want to dance to that day. It’s a subtle thing with powerful effects. My ’to do’ list is continually growing. Conscious intention helps me tackle my tasks with less struggle and more completion making it worth the extra couple of minutes each morning.
Stop what you’re doing for 30 seconds, close your eyes, take a deep breath what is your intention for the rest of your day? I would love it if you shared your intention in the comments below (even just a single word can be powerful)