<3 Intentions <3
/January is typically a time we set goals for the coming year. Maybe we want to save money, exercise more, meditate more :), or make some other sort of changes for self-improvement. Today though, I wanted to share a practice with you that is a little more subtle than this type of goal.
It’s a practice that comes from the idea that everything we need, we have within us already - if only we listen.
Today let’s take some time to listen to and trust in our heart’s good intentions.
This isn’t always where our mind likes to go. In fact, listening to our heart’s wishes is not something we’re really ever taught. And often negativity and hopelessness can be a powerful draw. But once we start to listen to our heart’s wishes, it’s hard to ignore them as they provide such an honest and strong guide for our actions.
Within each of us is a well of love. When we learn to listen and honor our heart’s intent, we can tap into this well and share it with the world. As we grow clearer on the heart’s intent, it becomes easier to live each day with integrity and purpose. We now have an unshakeable compass, directing us on our way, helping steer us through the challenges and lead us to the joy of even the smallest victories.
A simple practice to help us tap into our heart’s intent is to pause before we get out of bed in the morning to check in with our internal world. Here we can take a moment before starting the day to listen to the heart and see what’s fresh for us today. What do we need, how would we be best served today? With these few moments, come away with a one or two word intention for the day - be it patience, tenderness, self-compassion, kindness, whatever feels right. It need not be anything major. Now we have a touch stone that we can return to as we move through our day.
The trick in setting these types of intentions, just like in mindfulness practice, is to hold them lightly. There’s no need to judge ourselves, beat ourselves up, or get frustrated when we forget and get off track. Rather, that’s just another opportunity to honor the heart’s wish.
Intentions differ from goals in that they are less confining and less rigid. They offer us more grace. And unlike many goals which come with a timeline or stipulations attached, intentions offer us infinite opportunity to recommit, to come back.
Start small today. Maybe set an intention for your meditation - maybe to meet yourself with empathy, maybe to honor your body’s needs.
