Activate Your Intention in 3 Simple Steps
“Each of us should have an aspiration, a dream, a deep desire, so that we come alive.” Thich Nhat Hanh
Any time is a great time to reconnect with our intentions for the year. The Latin roots of intention mean to stretch out and to direct one’s attention towards something. In early English it also encompassed meanings like heart, mind, and purpose.
Our intentions involve reaching toward what deeply resonates with us. When we set intentions, there is no predetermined outcome. It is simply about initiating a change that aligns with our deepest values.
As you reconnect with what matters most, consider your heartfelt wishes for yourself, your loved ones, and the world.
Once we have clarity, the following three step process is a powerful way to activate our intentions and make them come alive:
Step 1 — INTENTION:
You are planting seeds. Be clear about what you want to grow in your life. Reflect on what it looks & feels like to be fully embodying your intention. Engage your senses. Breathe this state in.
Step 2 — ATTENTION
Affectionately tend to your garden — place your attention on your intention. What we give our attention to grows. Write out your intentions, lovingly read & recommit to them daily.
Step 3 — NO TENSION
Soften any resistance that comes up when focusing on your intention. You are a gardener. Patience is essential in gardening, plants blossom at their own pace! Trust.
As you move into your next chapter, remember, INTENTION, ATTENTION, NO TENSION. I also love the phrase “high intention, low attachment” as a guide for nurting my aspirations. If you need more inspiration, here are some lines from one of my favorite Plum Village songs: “You are the farmer. You are the field. Tend to your land. Grow your freedom.”
Author Bio: Meena Srinivasan is a contemplative leader, celebrated speaker, accomplished author, and visionary edupreneur. She is an educator-activist at heart, consistently championing the fusion of Mindfulness, Emotional Intelligence, and Belonging. Meena was featured as one of 2022’s 10 Powerful Women of the Mindfulness Movement in Mindful Magazine and is the Executive Director of Transformative Educational Leadership (TEL)™ an organization that supports educational leaders in building more compassionate and just schools. A former public school administrator and National Board Certified Teacher, Meena is the creative force behind the SEL Every Day Online Courses, an instructor of graduate level Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) courses at UC Berkeley and the CEO of Karuna Consulting, LLC, an organization that takes its name from the Sanskrit word ‘Karuna,’ signifying compassion. Karuna Consulting is a certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) driven by a profound mission: to foster a more compassionate world through Meena’s keynotes, professional learning, coaching, and consulting services. She is the author of numerous publications including Teach, Breathe, Learn and SEL Every Day. The latter was honored as one of 2019’s Favorite Books for Educators by the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley. Her TEDx talk on Tenderness is one of the most popular TEDx talks of 2024 (with over 2 million views). Meena has been practicing yoga and meditation for over 25 years, is an ordained Zen Buddhist and serves on the Board of the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation. Learn more at meenasrinivasan.com.
