How To Set Intentions That Manifest

Not long ago, I was going through some storage boxes and out fell a little scrap of paper. Curious, I picked it up, unfolded it and read the words I had written over a year earlier.

Now, I do not remember writing this little note, or saving it for that matter. But what I found grabbed my attention and pulled me immediately into the present moment.

It was a wish list. I had written things like, “do fulfilling work that feeds my soul,” and “a home with by the ocean, mountains and forest.”  As I read through the items on this list, I realized that all of them had meanwhile become a reality in my life. I was amazed, and filled with gratitude!

Like most people, I also too often forget to take stock and honor moments of gratitude for the many blessings in my life.

While this wish list shook me back into gratitude, it also got me thinking about something else. The power of intention.

I always say that life is like driving – you need to look where you want your car to go. With the general busy-ness of life getting in the way, it can be challenging to stay focused on where we want to be versus where we are now.

I have found the following three strategies help to bring me back into full presence and awareness in the current moment, as well as setting intentions like a ‘map’ of where I want to be headed.

Envision The Broad Strokes

It is vital to understand that universal energies seek to help us manifest that which is our highest and best good. With this concept as our framework, we allow these energies to work within our lives in ways we may never have expected.

Intention is more than wishful thinking—it’s willful direction. It is a philosophy of the heart put into practice, a consistency of conscious patterns of thought, energy, and action. Through intention, we see more and create with more clarity, passion, and authenticity ~ Jennifer Williamson

Setting intentions is a process of surrender in many ways. Instead of rigid ideas of what your future is ‘supposed’ to look like, try using broader terms. So, for example, you may want to manifest a new career opportunity, or switch careers entirely. What does a day in that future professional life look like? Is it having a successful practice of your own? Better work-life balance? How do you feel once you’ve achieved this?

Daydream as much as you like, and do not worry about the details of ‘how.’ This allows the Universe ‘creative license’ in crafting outcomes for you in the best way possible. It also pushes us to be more open to the unexpected. The Universe knows you at a soul level, it can handle the details, and often this is where the true miracles are hiding.

Be A Little Selfish

Your intentions are about you, not about anyone else. So, when creating it, give yourself permission to be self-oriented, and even a little selfish! It’s important to keep your intentions clear, so focus on what you want.

This self-focus can be challenging at first, but exploring what brings you joy is the first step in creating it! The more honest and real you can be with yourself, the more potent your intention-setting will be. Often just the act of acknowledging our desire for something new or different can create a powerful shift in the energies in our lives.

I’m a big fan of intention. That’s because I have learned first-hand the power of setting my intention on my goal and making all decisions based off of that intention ~ Lewis Howes

Make It Tangible

Find ways to make your set intentions concrete or tangible, instead of it just being a few vague thoughts or ideas. For example, it can be visual in the form of a vision board, daily affirmations on sticky notes on your mirror, or a list of goals written on a scrap of paper, as I had done. This is potentially not only a wonderful creative outlet, but you may find that you get to know yourself on a much deeper level through the process. It can open up a powerful re-connection with your soul-self.

The process of making a vision board itself can be very meditative, even a form of ritual, as you focus on your dreams and goals and create a visual representation of these. Making a list on the other hand, is a more cerebral way to plant these seeds in your mind. In my experience, I feel that both are important as they engage different parts of our perception.

Also, as a vision board is larger and less portable, I like to have little lists to tuck into places like my journals, my wallet, and my car. Finding them unexpectedly from time-to-time is a great reminder to be present and aware of where I want to be headed.

Trust The Process

Remember that the Universe is under no obligation to work in the way we think it should, or expect it to. And in my experience, Spirit always knows best and even seems to delight in surprising us! When you find yourself in those beautiful moments of flow, you will know what I mean. The synchronicities seem to come one after another and the awareness of these is a comfort for the soul.

The Universe wants us to be happy and to fulfill your potential, and is always conspiring to help us get there. Staying open to new experiences is crucial. At times this will propel us outside our comfort zone, which may be scary a first, but this is how we grow most. This is how we find out what we are truly made of!

Be open to the opportunities the Universe offers you, even if they may seem too big, too scary, or too unfamiliar. Spirit knows what you can handle, and the best path to your true happiness.