Everything follows intention.
Intention is focused mental energy directed toward our best intentions.
And we need it because reality moves fast.
Everything and its brother tries to pull us away from the next right step, from our plans, our priorities, and the person we hope to be by the end of the day. (Or maybe that’s just me?)
If you have a neurodivergent brain or a squirrely one (who doesn’t these days), you know this especially well. Following through can be hard. Downright hard.
That’s where intention comes in. There are many ways we can drive the point home of honoring our boundaries, i.e., health goals for ourselves.
Tefillah:
When we pair that action with a prayer- when we ask Hashem for help- it lifts and propels our goal to the finish line, almost giving it a momentum of its own.
Accountability:
Share your plan with someone. Watch it materialize. As James Clear, “the Habits Guy,” says, no one wants to look like a fool in front of someone else.
Turn it into a Challenge.
Suddenly, that small action has a much better chance of making it through.
The Daily Keli- An Intention Practice
I like the following simple journaling practice. It helps my scattered brain become a vessel for the day ahead.
I do it after I plan my food—which is itself an act of intention.
I ask one question:
How do I plan to connect to myself today?
Each morning, I set one intention for each dimension of the self:
- How am I honoring my boundaries today?
- Which act of self-care am I focusing on today?
- How will I nurture my mind?
- In what way will I nourish my soul today?
I’ve learned that when I stay connected, I keep my body and heart regulated, the “addict” at bay, my brain steadier, and my soul nourished.
It’s a small practice.
But small intentions, repeated consistently, become the foundation for centered living.
