The Power of Intention

"Our intention creates our reality." - Wayne Dyer

Welcome, 2024! The new year came whether we were ready for it or not. We are halfway through January already and before we know it, January will have come and gone. With each new year, it seems to be a natural time of reflection as we discussed in December's GNR Blog. Have you continued some of this self-reflection and embraced a new habit, goal, or resolution? As we are halfway through the month now, are you likely feeling more grounded in that change or action? Or have you maybe abandoned that new routine altogether? Studies show that most people forget about their resolutions by the second week of the year. No matter what the answer is, there is no judgment, only the opportunity to readjust and re-attune to what it is you may need not only this month, but this year!

This year, while we will continue to create a safe supportive space for all to embrace their healing and recovery journeys through gratitude, GNR will also focus on the power of intention. As our intention has more power than we often realize. As we continue to embrace gratitude on our journey, it is also essential to approach our journey with intention, in all areas and practices, in order to stay present and aligned with oneself. You may even have the opportunity to be open to finally permitting yourself to connect with your true authentic self. So, we will explore what intention is, what it means to be intentional, and how we can harness the power of intention to deepen our connection not only with ourselves but also with others. Harnessing the power of connection.

"When your intention is clear, so is the way" - Alan Cohen

As the new year begins to unfold, we often hear others discuss their "New Year's resolutions." While I do love and support the idea of this natural time of self-reflection and supporting one another in the idea of a resolution, for me the language does not necessarily align to the start of embracing a change. It almost feels a bit harsh leaving you with little room to evolve as you get started. The Cambridge Dictionary defines resolution as an official decision that is made; a promise to yourself not to do something or the act of solving or ending a problem or difficulty. Again, not a bad definition at all, but the word resolution feels a bit like "all or nothing" thinking in my mind. It may not leave you enough room for adapting, adjusting, and altering along the way. I often wonder if this is what leads to the stop a few weeks in when it starts to feel challenging or if we miss a day of working out because life got lifey. It can be hard to get back on track the next day. So, instead of using the word resolution, I prefer to use the word intention. It seems with intention driving the change initially, it then evolves into a resolution per say, after we have adapted it and incorporated it into the many facets of our day-to-day lives.

"An unintentional life accepts everything and does nothing. An intentional life embraces only the things that will add to the mission of significance." - John C. Maxwell

Intention by definition is what one means to bring about; determination, importance, significance; a process or manner of healing incised wounds. Intention by definition sounds and feels more supportive, in my mind, to embrace growth and change. Maybe re-framing how we approach change to one with intention, can help guide us to longer more sustainable, actionable change and growth. I think intuitively I use more of this language, especially in my practice with clients, even in some of the initial questions when building rapport and first meeting someone. I ask my clients to consider the following questions: what is your intention for starting your therapy journey? or how may you know your time in therapy has been beneficial? what may be different in your day-to-day life that allows you to know your time here has been successful? This has always felt like a more intentional way to help me understand what brings someone to therapy and not necessarily the goal or precipitating event, but overall, what they hope to embody and how they hope to walk through their day-to-day more grounded and present.

Intention has many meanings and applications based on its context, which makes it an even more powerful tool to help us focus on our healing journeys. From a spiritual aspect, everything begins with an intention. Deepak Chopra talks about the law of intention and desire as a way to harness the power of intention to bring about what we desire. In the Vedic text, the Upanishads state "You are what your deepest desire is. As your desire is, so is your intention. As your intention is, so is your will. As your will is, so is your deed. As your deed is, so is your destiny." What a beautiful and powerful way to reflect upon our intentions and the divine meaning behind them as they truly do connect with our highest and most authentic selves. So truly from a spiritual sense, intention is connected to the divine within each of us that sanctions us to grow and evolve. The word intention truly does harness a power within, this seems very different, almost as if it allows us to create and come closer to our connection with self and the universe. Intention is broader, yet more powerful and connected within, this is very different than a resolution.

Intention is also being able to focus your mind and take action to achieve what you want with heartfelt emotions and appropriate expectations. This is exactly what I was referencing above, aligning our thoughts, emotions, and actions all with intention coming from the heart and our true self. There are many different steps and ways which we can take to connect with this, but it ultimately starts with the power of intention being the driving force from within. A resolution almost infers that we are broken and need to be fixed. Something is wrong, and I want to fix it. I believe we are not broken, but rather have become disconnected from ourselves and we set an intention that is supported by our inner power. As I believe we have everything we need inside us to heal, sometimes we just need that reminder.

From a medical definition and perspective, intention is a process or manner of healing incised wounds as stated above. When diving into this a bit more, I stumbled upon what it was referencing regarding the stages of wound healing. It referenced cutaneous wound healing as the process by which the skin repairs itself after damage. There are two types of healing, primary intention and secondary intention, both consisting of four stages within each that impact healing. Primary Intention usually heals faster as it is healing from the edges of the wound, while Secondary Intention heals from the bottom of the wound upwards, often taking more time. Just as wounds heal, we have the power of intention to heal ourselves from within. Our bodies show us the healing way and power within, so if we heal with intention, it connects us closer to our purpose and our true authentic selves.

"Choose your intention carefully and then practice holding your consciousness to it, so it becomes the guiding light in your life." - Roger Delano Hinkins

So how we can harness the power of intention to deepen our connection with ourselves and with others? We often need to quiet our minds to be able to connect with our true intentions. It reminds me of the quote from Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati, "quiet the mind, and the soul will speak." Practices such as meditation or prayer can be powerful tools to help us connect with our pure consciousness, spirituality, and the stillness and calmness within to hear what those intentions are. What many refer to after connecting with the intention is the importance of releasing it, not having it be the constant focus but more an all-encompassing guide. In addition, do not focus on the outcome, or influence from others (release expectations), only focusing on that idea of heartfelt emotion, meaning it feels right and authentic to you, not from a place of stress, expectation or comparison. Then lastly let the universe/God do its work and take action. It is interesting as no matter what is referenced when exploring this, it seems there are four phases, like the medical reference regarding intention wound healing phases. The body's innate healing power from within is again helping guide us on our healing journeys of mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual wellness. Our true power lies within our intention, and I don't know about you, but I am truly grateful today for the power of intention! I invite you to embrace the power of intention and go be intentional.

"Every journey begins with the first step of articulating the intention, and then becoming the intention." - Bryant McGill

Remember our healing work may feel singular at times, but its impact is collective. So, this year, GNR will be sharing gratitude on a more frequent basis with monthly giveaways. We look forward to announcing the first GNR Giveaway winner this week and sharing a few tools to help bring about some intention-setting practices!

Please remember if you subscribe to this blog, share it with a friend, tag someone, like it on LinkedIn, or follow Grateful Never Relapses on Instagram and/or Facebook, you will be entered into a drawing for the GNR giveaways in 2024. There will be one winner per month, so the more you share and like, the greater your chances of winning. (You will be contacted via messenger or email to tell us where to send it.) Keep sharing the love, grateful beings!

About Grateful Never Relapses

Welcome to a community where the belief and mindset is one in which recovery is possible for everyone! We believe that through gratitude, mindfulness, and awareness of all that is around us and within us, recovery is possible. When you shift your awareness to come from a place of gratitude, even in the most challenging or darkest of times, Grateful NEVER Relapses! The hope for this forum is to offer a brave and safe space to embrace your recovery journey with gratitude. Whatever you may be healing from, we hope you find solace here. We plan to share useful resources and tools to help you embody gratitude into your daily life. While we understand that everyone's journey is unique to them, we hope you are able to share in the power of gratitude in your own healing journey and realize the doors it may open and the walls it may take down, while recognizing and embracing the power of gratitude within!

By: Laura Anne Pasker, LCPC, LMHC, CCTP, Owner & Clinician at Clarity Counseling Solutions, LLC and Chief Gratitude Gangster at Grateful Never Relapses