Getting Thoughtful About Intentions

I used to define intention by what I expected from myself in a situation. It was about how I wanted to feel or what I wanted to achieve. I thought intentions were a proactive approach to different moments in life, big or small.

But they don't always guide me in the right direction. My intentions often lack feedback, and they don't have all the facts. Most of the time, the intentions I set are too rigid, controlled more by circumstances than gut feelings.

What if my intentions were more thoughtful and informed? This concept is central to my book, The In-Between: Life in the Micro. Here's why this matters so much.

What Are Thoughtful Intentions?

Intentions are aspirational. We set a goal in our minds as we encounter new experiences. There’s no specific outline to these intentions or the ability to evolve them as we move forward.

Thoughtful intentions are the next level. They include the information at hand and support what you hope to achieve. They account for circumstances while not allowing them to take control.

Why Do Thoughtful Intentions Matter?

Evolving from standard intentions to those that are more thoughtful requires being outcome-focused. They deliver a way to be present in the micro-moments in life. These are where real living and authentic interactions occur.

It’s a way to prohibit circumstances from ruining the intention you set. We can’t factor these out, as circumstances will always arise. They’ll force you to pivot, but there’s less discomfort if you’re flexible and agile.

I’ve always respected thoughtful intentions, but I didn’t always practice them. Today, I’m still trying my best to live this way. It’s something you have to work on through reflection and awareness.

How to Make Your Intentions More Thoughtful

In my book, I talk about some changes you can make to be more intentional, including:

• Think about the ideal outcome as your intention and what you need to keep this. With this mindset, circumstances have less power to overtake intentions.
• Remember that the outer world reflects the inner world. If you work to improve your intentions, experiences will as well because you’ve developed a greater awareness of yourself and others.
• Accept that the unexpected is always a probability and prepare accordingly. Remaining focused on vision versus the circumstances enables you to hold your intention.
• Understand that failing to set an intention means circumstances will always win. If you go into situations with no guide on expectation, the circumstances will create these. It doesn’t matter how familiar the scenario is; you must do this. If you don’t, you can’t complain after the fact.
• Align thoughtful intentions with your inner knowledge and core values. The inner self is the authentic self, and the intentions you form need to be true to this. If they are not, you’ll have significant inner turmoil.

Not every thoughtful intention will be easy to set and hold. Having this mindfulness does put you in a good position to be thoughtful consistently.

You can find more insights and examples of thoughtful intentions by reading my book.