Acting with intention can be part of living a meaningful, purposeful life. If we are unsure of our intentions, it may be easier to drift out of alignment with our values and vision. Intention setting is a simple practice that can be done in the morning, before meditation, before a difficult conversation, or at any other point of your day.
Acting with Intention
To act with intention, it is important to take a moment’s pause before beginning an activity. For instance, if you are heading to a family member’s home for dinner, take a few moments to consider what is your intention for the visit. In the same way, you might pause to consider your intention before enrolling in a new course, offering a workshop, or going on vacation. An intention can guide our actions, helping us live more in line with what matters most to us.
The worksheet suggests asking yourself what you wish to embody or cultivate, such as self-compassion, deep listening, or gratitude, and clarifying what is most needed in that moment. You carry the intention with you, checking in now and then to realign if you forget, and at the end of the day you reflect on whether you remembered it. It also notes that intentions differ from goals: goals sit in the future, while an intention can be embodied in each moment. In the Buddhist tradition, as the worksheet describes it, Right Intention is the second teaching of the Noble Eightfold Path.
Intention Setting Meditation
This ‘Acting with Intention’ worksheet is a simple practice to help us realign with whatever it is we are doing. We can also explore intention setting as a formal practice. For a self-guided intention setting meditation, you might come to a comfortable seated position, grounding through your sit bones and taking a few deep breaths to settle into the present moment. When you feel grounded, you might begin to reflect on these questions:
- What is it that I yearn to embody in this life?
- What is it that I have to share with the world?
- What quality or virtue might be a part of my purpose here?
You might formulate your intention in a single sentence and then repeat it to yourself for three to five minutes, perhaps placing your hands on your heart. When you are ready to finish this mini-meditation, you can let the words dissolve and draw your attention to the breath, letting the intention follow you through the day or days to come.
