I have absolutely no intention whatsoever! (and then some)
Where I grew up, people might exclaim this, emphatically declaring a complete lack of interest in investing any energy in the direction of some stated thing or other. This brings a smile to me because this particular statement was often delivered with a playful mood, coupled with a strong, defining statement of position.
So this leads me to my own intention, the idea of doing something with intention. I often work with this in mindfulness and it's a thing I'm feeling the need to open up more to. Why? Because it's something new to play with, I suppose, but I'm also learning that intention can have a lot to do with healing, well being and our inner world. To be honest, until recently I haven't really spent much time with what intention is about - it was part of my teacher training but I didn't feel that I connected with it in depth. Then I started to look into it more and, coupled with a recent powerful guided meditation session I was part of, I started to see what it is to start my day with intention.
In my morning meditation I set my personal intention for the day and also to bring in the bigger picture of doing it for the benefit of all beings, past present and future. This is a very Buddhist thing to do but it is activating or engaging a universal 'energy'. It's practical magic! Then I have a framework or a filter through which I approach my day and everything gets tinted in that particular direction - even the hard stuff. Especially the hard stuff! To reframe the challenges of our day within a supportive intention-base is to trust emergence - the idea that there is no wrong thing that's happening - it's all stuff to work with within my chosen frame/theme/intention.
I'd be interested in hearing from you about your own intention experiments.
I've come to this through working with and new meditation teacher, along with reading a Lynn McTaggart audiobook Living with Intention.
It's a practical and useful book containing the science behind intention as well as ways to get into it.
New Stuff In the New Year
Next Year I have a few things in the pipeline that I don't mind sharing:
Beginners' Mindfulness in nature Retreat (weekend)
Next level Mindfulness in Nature retreat (4 day)
Collaboration with Mike Smith from Incredible Farm - foraging, ecosystems, mindfulness, nature connection (weekend)
Finding Your Nature courses
Mindfulness courses
I'm also excited to say that next year is going to be a big year of learning for me. I'm definitely feeling the pull of going deeper into therapies so I'll be training in two types of therapy: Rapid Resolution Therapy (does what it says!) and also a year long training with Gabor Mate's Compassionate Inquiry professional training.
Take care of and explore your beautiful inner world.
Alan