Creating what you want. The power of intention.

As I continue to improve myself and my life, it becomes abundantly clear that thoughts are things! The words that you choose, the way you phrase things can genuinely impact our results in life. Our words and thoughts send messages to our brains that can affect our success in life. I realized for myself that I too often use the word try. I will try to juice for three days. I will try intermittent fasting. I will try to exercise more, meditate… whatever it is that I want to do to impact my life positively. The word try creates a barrier to what we want to accomplish. Or, as our friend YODA from Starwars says, “Do or not do there is no try.” So as we continue on our journey of becoming the best version of ourselves. Here are some tips that can help to create what you want.

Get clear on what you want. This is probably the MOST important and the MOST challenging part- creating our intention. Often we state we want something but are not clear on what that truly is or WHY we want it. Make sure you are clear on what you want and how you are going to achieve it.

Envision what you want. Have you ever created a vision board? I learned to work with a vision board years ago to create a map of where I want to go. Create a vision board by gathering images and words that pertain to your goal and gluing them onto a large piece of construction paper. Hang the collage in a spot where you’ll see it often. (Or, you can use an online service like Pinterest to create a digital vision board.)

Another method of connecting your intention is visualization. Try this “Setting An Intention to Succeed” exercise used by professional athletes, speakers, politicians, and performers:

1. Upon waking, lie in bed and think about what you have planned for your day (or find a quiet spot to sit and contemplate).
2. Think about your desired outcome.
3. Take a deep breath and visualize yourself succeeding.
4. Replay your success several times in your mind.
5. Add other senses, including sounds, smell (yep, this is where essential oils come in), and touch. For instance, as you replay your success, you now also hear the director offering you the gig, or you feel the physical sensation of your finger hitting the “send” button on your latest assignment.
6. Lastly, replay the scene again, adding emotions. Feel your elation at getting the part or your pride at finally finishing your work. You can perform An Intention to Succeed throughout the day to focus on your successes rather than your failures.

Take Action. Do something to make your desire happen. Let’s say you want to eat four servings of vegetables a day. Your first action may be to go to a farmers’ market and purchase a few veggies you can cook for dinner. Making sure you have the tools to succeed. If adding more of those veggies to your day is a goal, make sure you prep them ahead of time so they are easily accessible. You are taking time to plan and then taking the actions that are going to create success.

Go slow.  Too often, we give up on our goals because we set ourselves up for overwhelm. It is important to look at the big picture of what you want to accomplish to give up soon!  Cut more significant problems into manageable chunks that you can deal with more efficiently and make one change at a time that brings you closer to your goal. When you feel successful in achieving a goal, it motivates you to continue. Want to run a marathon? Start with a mile, then two, and so forth. Celebrate your small wins, and before you know it, you’ll be running through the finish line.

If you are looking for support with creating positive intentions, I have the tools to help you on your way! Let’s talk!