In our eBook, 7 Keys to God-centric Mental Health, Thom Harrison, wrote: “Your intention is your focused purpose. Intention instructs the space around and within you. Intention drives change as you put your new sense of self into daily practice and thought.”[1]
Intention Defined
Personally, I have had trouble defining the word intention, but the dictionary states it is “an act or instance of determining mentally upon some action or result; the end or object intended; purpose.”
To me, this sounds most like faith, which is confidence or trust in a person, outcome or thing. So as I use the word, I often equate it to my belief; especially in my belief and trust in God.
Thom Harrison shared, “Intention is a word also coined by one of our favorite authors, Lynne McTaggart. Lynne has contributed greatly to our community with her many years of research conducted all around the world. Her highly recommended books, The Intention Experiment and The Power of Eight offer a new look at practices we in a faith-based community usually call prayer and meditation.
McTaggart, for example, quoting Marilyn Schlitz, Ph.D., who is the Director of Research at the Institute of Noetic Sciences and one of several scientists engaged in early investigations of remote influence, defined intention as “’the projection of awareness, with purpose and efficacy, toward some object or outcome.’[2] To influence physical matter, they believed, thought had to be highly motivated and targeted.
“In a series of remarkable experiments, these scientists provided evidence that thinking certain directed thoughts could affect one’s own body, inanimate objects, and virtually all manner of living things, from single-celled organisms to human beings.”[3]
Obviously not prayer as I saw it in my working definition, but also something more.
Using Intention in Your EternalCore
Harrison explained, “Through intention, you are learning to trust and listen to the internal mechanism within you, or what the world calls your conscience. Just like moving from the ‘I’ to the ‘I am,’ your intention can expand and align with God’s intention. Your purpose can become God’s purpose.”
An excellent example of this comes in from the New Testament, Jesus said, “…everything is possible for the person who believes.” But then Jesus in Gethsemane writes Jon Bloom, had to test his own intention “As he stared into the cup the Father was giving him to drink …he found himself deeply desiring for the cup to pass from him.
“But deeper still was a spiritual desire that his human desire be submitted to his Father’s desire. For Jesus trusted that the Father’s desire would result in the greatest good for the greatest glory.”[4]
Harrison also warns, “Your intention is not a small thing. It relies on the discovery of truth and self. You have to be cautious in that intention, be aware of where your intention stems. If allowed, the lower parts of your brain will lead you away from light into the dark recesses of continued pain and suffering.”
INTENTION IS A FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE OF ENLIGHTENED LEADERSHIP
—The Spiritual Dimension of Leadership
In The Spiritual Dimension of Leadership, the author uses a clear example of this as he writes:
“Almost everything you do starts with an intention, and an intention starts with an idea in your mind. An intention includes not just what you want to do but the why behind what you want to do. For example, as a school leader, I may intend to raise the achievement scores of my students—but why?
-
- So I’ll look good, get a raise, and have my contract renewed?
- So my staff will feel successful and feel good about themselves?
- So I can feel successful as a leader?
- So I can have some evidence that the programs I’ve initiated actually work?
- So I have some evidence that our students have learned what they need to be successful?
“All five of these reasons are possible… [but] each of them is distinguishable by its focus. Notice how in some of these examples you the leader are the focus, whereas in others the focus is outside of yourself and is on teachers or students.
“Often, if not most of the time, there’s more than one underlying reason why people have a particular intention. Human beings are complex, and our underlying motives often comprise a variety of factors that may be of varying importance. Sometimes people don’t even ask themselves what their underlying motives are.
“For important intentions, we suggest that you ask yourself not only what you want to manifest but also why. Ask yourself who is the primary focus—yourself or others? The more your underlying intention focuses on benefiting others, the more you will engender support from the Universe.”[5]
Harrison continues, “If your intention is based on light, love, and truth it sends restorative currents through your mind and soul to others and throughout the universe.
“When you have good and clear intent, when you are open to that internal voice that whispers God’s intent, you will start to change. You continue to move in a lasting and healthy direction.
“So, which of the two meanings do we mean for the word ‘intention?’ Is it to focus with clear purpose? Or is it another word for prayer or meditation? Our answer is yes… It is both.”
Applying the Principle of Intention
In The Spiritual Dimension of Leadership, Corwin suggests these steps:
• Select something and declare it to be an intention.
• Declare it to yourself.
• Write it down: “It is my intention that . . .”
• Declare it to others.
• Close your eyes and use visualization to see it in your mind’s eye.
• Make note of ways you can use your position to talk about your intention both formally and informally.
• Write more about it and share your writing.
• Privately expand the energy field through prayer.[6]
And Harrison adds, “You can generate your own intention, or have it amplified as you tap into God’s intention. You already do it every day.
“There is the voice of your own intention. Then there are the higher functioning parts of your brain connected to and hearkening to God’s intention. And then there is the fifty percent of your brain’s parts that lead you away from the lasting mental health that you desire. It is your choice which voice of intention you listen to and focus on.”
The third key of the 7 Keys to God-centric Mental Health
Generate clear and powerful intent
—Thom Harrison, in 7 Keys to God-centric Mental Health
as you learn to focus your intention
to God for yourself and others.”
As you exercise intention, “you are acting within the ‘I am’ realm as you connect with God and your inner truth.” writes Harrison. “You are bringing all aspects of yourself—spiritual, mental, and physical, in line with your divine path. Intention is far-reaching. It emulates within and outside of you in your daily thoughts and actions. It gives you access to the internal and external power of change.
“While recognizing your role in your three-act play and moving from the ‘I’ to the ‘I am’ your intention focus provides support and pathways to the truth for others. It comes to define your sense of self as it helps solidify your place within the ‘I am’ and provides a new, clarifying lens to find lasting healing.
“As you get in touch with these three voices of intention, you can now begin to research more truth.”
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SOURCES
1 Thom Harrison, 7 Keys to God-centric Mental Health, (all quotes from Harrison are taken from this source).
2 Marilyn Schlitz, Intentionality in Healing: Mapping the integration of body, mind and spirit, Techne tou biou
3 Lynne McTaggart, The Intention Experiment, Atria Books
4 Jon Bloom, “Lord, Align My Heart with Yours,” desiringGod, Oct 2016
5 Corwin, The Spiritual Dimension of Leadership
6 ibid
