A Lesson on Intention

Mmmm my chocolate chip cookie was so good – “was” being the operative word here. Why does the chocolate and the cookie have to taste SO good, and yet be so bad? I want another one. The second I give in to my sweet craving, which I do quite frequently, my mind goes through the following process: give me more, more, more, I want more, and finally, when my tummy starts to hurt, my brain agrees that more is not such a great idea anymore. Thinking of my intention to live well and feel well helps me talk my mind into stepping away from jumping off the cliff and into all of my chocolate chip cookies.
 
We talk about intention a lot when we practice yoga asana, but what does it really mean? We set our intentions for whatever we want to achieve in a moment, with an action, or in a broader scale, our lives. Whatever our intention is, we want to live that intention fully. So, if we’ve decided to do laundry, we have set our intention to fold that laundry, (my most dreaded task!) As we are folding the laundry, we embrace our intention to complete this task, trying to avoid thoughts like: “I’d really rather be doing something else,” “maybe only 6 more pieces and then I’ll go do something else,” “I hate doing this, why doesn’t my husband come fold his own laundry?”…these thoughts create anxiety and unrest. Instead, embrace your intention to do the laundry, and simply be okay with completing the task.

Next time you’re faced with a thought that goes against your intention, whether it’s a simple task, or a life goal, take a moment, ask yourself, “What is my goal, what is my intention?” Take a moment to think and embrace your intention, allow the monkey mind to grow silent, and move on. Most importantly, remember, life is a journey. We will falter, but it’s how we get back up that makes all the difference!