The Practice of Intention

We have all set goals at some point in our lives. Goals are wonderful landmarks on our path to fulfillment and success. But too often, we never reach them, or the same goals appear on the list year after year. Typically there are two things that go wrong.

1. No fuel behind the fire (no identified intention)
2. Goals are not clearly and effectively mapped out

We are going to address both of those issues in this two-part blog series.
So for the next couple of days, consider spending time to set your intention and clarify your goals.

And we’ll start with the idea of an intention. 

In yoga, it’s called a sankulpa.

An intention helps aligns the truth of your heart with intellect of your mind. When you begin to take action, the intention fuels you so that regardless of ease or difficulty, you are able to keep going.

I like to think of an intention as the current that moves a mountain stream. While it’s subtle and soft, it’s also extremely powerful.

Sometimes the intention seems to have little to do with your stated goals. So remember that it works in the background.

How to Discover Your Intention

1. Think or write about why you are participating in this Fall into Fitness program.
   
   • What do you hope to gain?
   • How do you hope to feel at the end?
   • And why do you want to feel that way?
2. Then, take a look at your answers and ask ‘why’ again. (This should be easy if you have little ones at home!)  And you keep asking ‘why’ until you get to a very solid, basic answer. Your answer will likely have something to do with serving, helping or sharing.
   For example,
   • I want to feel better in my clothes.
     Why do you want to feel better in your clothes?
   • So when I’m out with friends and family, I’m not worried about how I look. I’ll be able to better enjoy their company.
     Why would you like to better enjoy their company?
   • When I’m able to soak up the love offered to me by friends and family, I’m able to give love right back.
     In this example, it’s possible to keep going deeper. But this is a great place to start. Let’s move on to the third step.
3.  Strip away all of the stories and get to the heart of it. State the intention in positive, present tense.
   
   • I freely offer love to my friends and family.
4.  Repeat your intention several times a day. As you say it, close your eyes, take a few deep breaths and feel what it is you are stating. 

Take some time today to work on your intention. If you feel comfortable, use the forum as a workspace or journal so others can support you. And always feel free to email with questions! Enjoy…

In oneself lies the whole world and if you know how to look and learn, then the door is there and the key is in your hand. Nobody on earth can give you either the key or the door to open, except yourself. 
-Krishnamurti in 'You Are the World.'

-- Kim Bridi, The Tree: A Therapeutic Yoga Studio

The Tree is a studio dedicated to the therapeutic application of yoga. It is a boutique yoga therapy studio that specializes in yoga for physical, mental and emotional healing and wellness.