Like an inspired artist facing a blank canvas, we can use intention to alter the direction of our lives. Intention functions like a cosmic Roto-Rooter, transforming situations or relationships entrenched in deeply rooted patterns by drawing toward us opportunities that are better aligned with the fulfillment of our potential. Intention, when supported by our connection to a divine energy source, sets up the people, places, and opportunities that may shape our future realities. It is then up to us to select from these possibilities choices that align with our true being. The more we learn to trust the power of our intentions, the easier it is to let go of the lives we have had until now and manifest more fulfilling ones.
Most people spend their entire lives accepting what they think are the fixed circumstances of their existence. Their sense of powerlessness drains physical and creative energy and reinforces patterns of futility and avoidance. Consequently, they become bogged down in their daily problems and diminish their ability to transcend seemingly fixed circumstances and channel their creative energy positively.
No matter how dire our circumstances, we can transcend the conditions of our lives and shift our reality by using intentions to redirect the flow of our energy. It has often been observed that when individuals react negatively to someone or something, they generate more negativity, while their positive responses produce more vitality and well-being. This means that to generate better outcomes when we become angry, judgmental, or resentful toward people, we can pause, breathe deeply, open our hearts with compassion, and choose instead to bless people or wish them a great day. In this way, we disengage from negative hooks and channel the energy saved toward positive choices. Author Gary Zukav, in his book The Seat of the Soul, takes this notion further, writing, “Every experience and every change in your experience reflects intention.”
We begin using intention for positive change by knowing in our hearts that this is not just a possibility but a certainty. In directing our energy positively and consciously declaring our intentions, we open ourselves to the energy of co-creation. Like dropping a pebble into a pond, our intention, in co-creation with a divine energy source, sets off an energetic vibration that radiates outward from our heart center and shifts everything in our path, altering the choices we will have in the future.
Next, we need to watch for opportunities that align with our intention and make discerning choices. As Ralph Waldo Emerson poignantly reminds us, once we arrive at a decision the universe conspires to bring it about.For example, if we declare the intention that we want a soul-hearted relationship with a beloved partner, then after preparing by having a soul-hearted relationship with ourselves, as opportunities arise we can make choices that support having such a person show up in our lives. These choices may be difficult, perhaps requiring us to eliminate some of our already established relationships, change where we live or work, use an online dating site, or alter our lifestyle, all in the interest of allowing our energy to flow more freely in manifesting our desires. Nevertheless, we will have the strength to make such changes by trusting in the guidance of spirit.
An example of declaring an intention to shift perspective and direction in life is the following story about a client. Sheila had been in a relationship for ten years, was fifty pounds overweight, and so depressed she barely could get out of bed in the morning. She had found out that the man with whom she was living was cheating on her and decided to leave the unhealthy relationship. To get started, she began focusing on her own physical and emotional health by working out, getting bodywork done, seeing a therapist, and especially running. Like Forrest Gump, Sheila’s goal was to run gradually further and further—first to the end of the block, then a mile, and ultimately several miles. As a result, she lost weight, became less depressed, and felt more positive about her life. A year later she participated in a marathon. About ten miles into the race, an Aboriginal man ran up next to her and said, “How far do you plan on going?” and she replied, “As far as I can.” Then the man said, “It doesn’t matter how far you go because you are already there.” As she finished, she realized that her intention to run as far as possible had been more crucial to her success than establishing a goal of going a certain distance. After this, she was able to use her intentions to manifest more fulfilling situations that led to a more satisfying relationship with herself and others.
Using the power of intention is not about setting a specific goal and focusing so much on it that you lose sight of other possibilities. On the contrary, it is about setting a goal, being open to the many choices that present themselves in reaching that goal, then selecting the ones most likely to bring about the desired outcome.
Just as a plane is guided onto the runway, into the air, and to its destination by airline personnel and air traffic controllers, you, as copilot, can guide your intention into reality by co-navigating with your source. Making your flight plan a reality, however, necessitates being out in front of your intention, which means thinking and acting as if your intention has already manifested. Spirit then manifests your intention by guiding the choices you make. You can be out in front of your intention by using creative visualization. Close your eyes and imagine how your manifested intention would look and feel in your life. Next, trust and affirm that your intention has already been manifested. Then expand your conscious awareness so you are open to the spiritual information that comes through your heart guiding the choices that bring your intention into reality.
- Select a word or phrase that represents a positive intention for the day, month, or year. Write your intentions on Post-it Notes or in your journal, and place them wherever you will be able notice them. Then each time you see an intention, breathe in and affirm it.
- Hold yourself accountable for every choice you make, and actively make new choices to change your life. Handle things that happen with assuredness and ease so you stay aligned with your intent. To ensure that your choices will serve you well, pause before making each one and ask, “Am I making the best choice with the information I have right now?” and “Is this the best use of my time and energy?”
- Influence the quality of your choices by listening to the voice of spirit through your heart rather than by focusing on a specific outcome. As new information comes your way, check with your heart to see if it resonates with you. If it does, use the information to screen and eliminate choices that are not appropriate to your being at this time, and to make more suitable choices. The more discerning your choices are, the more you will experience physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.
Familiarity with the transformative power of intention makes us realize that we have many more possibilities in life than we could possibly envision through the lens of old mindsets. In co-creating with our divine source, we can consciously choose what we want in life. And with new confidence in the innate power of intention to manifest our desires, we can trust in our ability to make our dreams come true.
© 2014. Debra Reble, Ph.D. Excerpt from Soul-Hearted Partnership: Creating the Ultimate Experience of Love, Passion, and Intimacy. www.DebraReble.com
