THE POWER OF YOUR INTENTION

As we step into September, I invite you to join me in exploring a practice that has shaped my life deeply—setting intentions. For most of my adult life, I've been fascinated by ?transformative power of intentions. My first book back in the late 90's was Living In The Light, by?Shakti Gawain? published again in 2011.?

Setting Intentions aren't just wishes or hopes; they are deliberate choices we make about how we want to think, feel, and behave. Intentions are like the compass we hold in our hands, guiding us toward the life we want to live it. This month, let's focus on how we can powerfully set our intentions to align our inner world with the reality we wish to create.

When you look up the word?intention?in the dictionary, it is described as "an idea that you plan (or intend) to carry out. If you mean something, it's an intention. Your goal, purpose, or aim is your intention. It's something you mean to do, whether you pull it off or not." It's a bit like the Little Red Engine that tried to get up the hill: "I think I can, I think I can, I did! And if I can, so can you."

There’s a quiet strength in knowing exactly where you want to go, having a clear direction. Intentions are not just goals or aspirations—they are deeply personal commitments to ourselves. They are the quiet yet powerful declarations of how we want to show up in this world.

In my own journey, I’ve discovered that intentions are what helps shape our lives. They guide us in subtle ways, influencing the choices we make, the way we interact with others, and even how we perceive our challenges and triumphs. Unlike goals, which are focused on achieving specific outcomes, intentions are more about the qualities and values we want to live each day.

For years, I struggled with feeling dissatisfied—my days were filled with activities, yet I didn't feel a sense of purpose. I started to explore the practice of setting intentions and noticed a shift. I realised that my life didn’t have to be dictated by external circumstances or the expectations of others. I could choose how I wanted to think, feel, and respond, regardless of what was happening around me.

Setting intentions became a daily practice—a moment each morning to pause, breathe, and ask myself, “How do I want to show up today? How do I want to experience the day and what values do I want to live by?” These questions helped me tap into my inner compass and align my actions with what I wanted to achieve.

There were days when I set an intention to be more patient, especially during challenging conversations. Other times, my intention was to create joy, finding small moments of gratitude in a busy and active day. And there were days when I simply intended to be kind to myself, to let go of the need for perfect.?

Intentions, I’ve learned, are not about control but about choice. They remind us that we have the power to shape our experiences, not by changing what’s outside, but by transforming what’s within us. They encourage us to live mindfully, to be present, and to align our daily actions with what we want.

As we move through this month, I encourage you to take a moment each day to set a clear, heartfelt intentions. It doesn’t have to be grand or complicated. It could be as simple as intending to be fully present with ones you love, to listen more deeply, or to approach your work with renewed passion. Start becoming aware of how these small, daily intentions begin to create small but obvious changes in your life.

Remember, the power of intention lies in the words you choose and the energy you give them. Let your intentions be your guide. Write a short statement of who you are becoming and the life you are consciously creating, and at the end of your day practice gratitude for what you have experienced.

As the saying goes ...

"Some people go through life; others grow through life."

If you're getting past the middle of 2024 without the awareness of how you have grown - perhaps before you set your intentions for the rest of 2024, list 10 things you have achieved so far this year that you are proud of.

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Let's create a better place for others

Ondina x