It’s less about doing and a lot more about becoming
In the work I do helping people navigate the challenges of life, I often refer to “personal intersections,” those moments when you come to an intellectual, spiritual, or emotional crossroads, and are faced with making a decision.
As this column has touched on in the past, intersections are both big and small, and occur all day, all throughout life. Major ones, such as those involving relationships, child-rearing, personal crises, career paths, employment opportunities, educational possibilities and so on, require much of us. Sometimes they demand the use of all our coping skills and inner resources, conversations with loved ones, or quiet time for reflection and meditation. Perhaps they may demand all of the above.
Then there are minor ones that we usually resolve without a lot of difficulty or thought. These might look like, oh, where to go for dinner. Or, shall I pick up the dry cleaning on the way to the bank? Do I have time for the gym? Shall I call my folks today?
Well, there’s no better time than the start of a new year to take stock of your significant personal and professional intersections. Which way am I going this year? What changes do I wish to make? What’s truly important to me?
And this brings me to the amazing power of intention.
An intention is not so much about doing as it is about becoming and embracing your best self.
To help with this, you might ask yourself, what part of who I am—or who I wish to be—is due for some mindful attention? My body, my spirituality, my psychological well-being, my emotional landscape? If you think about it, talk about it, journal about it, and your daily meditations focus on bringing it to the forefront of your reality, then powerful and welcomed changes will occur in your life. They have to, as your thoughts, language, and behaviors shift to prioritize what’s really important to you, and what you truly want to accomplish.
Try this: Spend a morning paying close attention to all the things you usually don’t give a second thought to. For instance, when you grab the cereal from the cupboard, pause. Ask yourself if that’s really what you want to eat, or are you just doing what you always do? When you leave for work in the morning and give your sweetie a peck on the cheek like usual, hold on a sec. Why communicate a mere morsel of affection when you can communicate deeper feelings of love? Turn that peck into a big, sloppy smooch and lingering embrace. (Could be fun. Could make you late for work.)
Consciously choose how you wish spend this moment, and determine if it’s contributing to your goals. I believe that when your intention is clear and strong the Universe listens and conspires to help, bringing exactly the right people, experiences, and blessings into your path. Are you catching them?
What’s the payoff? Relationships more deeply felt. A stronger spiritual connection to your world and everyone in it. Heightened senses. Insight. Healthy change. In short, a Technicolor life more fully lived.
Life’s fraught with pitfalls and stumblings, and we surely can’t work on everything at once. So what? Perhaps what really matters is committing to the journey toward becoming who you truly want to be, declaring those intentions loudly and then paying attention, so as to embrace the support that surrounds you, that trickles from the sky, every step of the way.
Until next time: “We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?” — Marianne Williamson