intention setting

what if I told you

you are the creator of your own reality? 

& by that, you get to control your own perception?..(if you choose, of course)

you can bypass the mind and set your own intention rather than let the mind run on autopilot & create stories of expectations - possibly having THIS happen or THAT happen.

i’ve done this to myself too many times, where i’ve become upset, frustrated, or sad because the story that played in my head did not play in my external reality..i’ve created turmoil inside my body just from my mind - by creating expectations. i’ve found that the failure to create the story that played in my mind, not in my physical reality leaves me feeling hopeless & can easily result to negative emotions in the body.

by increasing my awareness, i’ve learned, i can save myself suffering and turn to sanity by creating and setting my own intentions. specifically and sacredly for me, because did you know, we are our own creators of our reality?

& you can save yourself from suffering too. 

monkeys see and monkeys do, but i’m here to tell you, we don’t have to abide by the laws & nature of our mind, or fall victim to the stories it creates & stay captive in it’s box. this box that’s wrapped with beliefs, stories, and knowledge we’ve learned or been conditioned to perceive to be the truth of our reality. when you begin to question every decision and become conscious of what you are doing, you start to move in every direction with more intention and purpose. you’ll start noticing your feet step out of the box from time to time.. & a new set of eyes to see reality for what it truly is. 

practices that aid in helping you step out of the box & create more awareness:

meditation

yoga

breathwork

journaling

reflecting

mindful movements

woman or men circles

cacao ceremonies

tea ceremonies

self-care routines

group discussions

& setting intentions

(-: keep trying new things, asking questions, & slowing down :-)

the first few times i set an intention i didn’t really understand & to be honest i don’t think i cared.. i just wanted to get through whatever i was doing to check it off my to-do list, finish so i could eat my next meal, get to the weekend, or go to bed & get to the next day (psst, i wasn’t living in the present moment ONE BIT!)

it wasn’t until i started to notice the difference between setting intentions & creating expectations, i let the importance of intention setting sink into my mind & body. 

according to a dictionary i found in my home (Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary)…

here are the definitions of ‘expectation’ & ‘expect’ VS ‘intention’:

expectation: 1. the act or state of expecting, anticipation 2. something expected 3. the state of being expected 

expect: 1. to look forward 2. to be pregnant - to await the birth of a child 3. to consider probable or certain things will happen 4. to consider reasonable, due, or necessary

here are some i found on the internet as well.. 

“in the case of uncertainty, expectation is what is considered the most likely to happen. an expectation, which is a belief that is centered on the future, may or may not be realistic.”

“a strong belief that something will happen or be the case in the future”

intention: 1. a determination to act in a certain way 2. import, significance 3. what one intends to do or bring about 4. a process or manner of healing of incised wounds 5. a concept considered as the product of attention directed to an object of knowledge 6. purpose with respect to marriage

…reading these definitions definitely make me realize how intention setting requires presence and how creating expectations for the future can easily pull you out of the present moment.

what do you think?

i like to think of an intention as a promise you make to yourself to carry something through..

here are some examples of intentions;

today i will stay focused

i will do my best

i’m going to be confident and clear when i speak

i’m going to radiate my love through every interaction i make

i will stand tall against challenges

i choose to be open to making connections…

& an expectation as the thing you hope happens. hoping something happens gives value to one outcome - moving your freedom into wishful thinking & weighing your self-worth dependent on an outcome that might not happen. creating expectations open up the opportunity to leave you feeling low if the expected outcome (story in your mind) does not prove to be true in physical reality.  

SO, how do i incorporate intention setting into my day, you ask?

take 2-5 minutes in the morning to reflect

(maybe when you sit down with your tea, coffee, or breakfast):

here are some guided questions to ask yourself

where am i in the present moment?

where am i going today? what will i be partaking in?

how do i want to feel throughout the day &/or afterwards?

one more thing, before you go;

one practice i love that makes me deeply present is making cacao. every time i make it, i’m reminded by the importance of intention setting. & how everything that enters your body, carries an intention. everything you do has the ability to carry an intention, event without you knowing it! make it part of your morning ritual, if you please.

with awareness, you can create your own reality :-)

𖥧.𖡼.⚘

from my heart to yours, thank you for tuning into “intention setting”.

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@hellobridgetteanne