The word intentions gives me such a feeling of confidence and with curiosity I am going to try and explain just why that is. It is a natural process is something we all go through daily, with awareness or not, so what would it be like to bring a sense of purpose to those intentions?
Intentions in their many forms- intentions with relationships, intentions for your work life, and within your body- are powerful in and of themselves for propelling us forward. They orient us, remind us, can be self affirming, and are our connection to our hopes and dreams. Gentler than goals, they encompass not just "doing" aspects of ourselves but also the more abstract realms of "being". They are a part of our daily life from the moment we get up with the intention of getting to work on time, to deciding what we eat for lunch or how we spend the evening after a demanding day.
Even going to the grocery store can involve a certain amount of intention and a certain amount of time organizing or assessing the situation. We ask ourselves "what do I need, what am I missing?" "What are the ingredients in that new recipe I want to try?" "How do I want to plan so there is time in the day for getting there?" Wow, what would happen if we gave that kind of attention to the bigger necessities in life??
Like, let's say the Holidays ( you knew I had to go there right??) How could setting some intentions serve you in being who it is you want to be during this holiday season? What intentions do you need? What are you sad about missing during this seasonal time in the past? What ingredients are necessary in setting the stage and how will you create them? What kind of organizing or planning is needed to stack the cards in your favor?
So many questions....it would be easier to just cross our fingers and hope for the best and while I am a big believer in Easy, experience tells us that these intentions deserve some time to reflect and plan and dream. Our most important relationships are on the line, you know the ones that are the life line to our peace and happiness, the same ones that during stressful times can drive us crazy! And how about our bodies? A heartfelt connection to what it is that would really help our bodies survive, (thrive?), during this holiday season is worth some thought.
Setting intentions doesn't need to take a lot of time or be one more thing on your to do list. It could happen on the bus to work in the morning, waiting in line at your favorite food truck, walking the dog, or while in the middle of a sun salutation. I personally like to write things down and then take a moment to find a gesture in my body that reminds me of who I am and who I want to be out in this demanding world. I wear a mala around my wrist to remind me of my name and the fresh open possibilities that it represents.
What will you create for yourself this holiday season? What intentions do you want to remind yourself, gift yourself? It will be an act of generosity to yourself and the others in your world.
May your Holidays be all that you intend them to be and may you be well.
Shunyamala
HeartWisdom
Mindfulness Based Wellness Coaching