“But remember that good intentions pave many roads. Not all of them lead to hell.”
-Neal Shusterman
How does Shusterman’s quote resonate with you?
Pause here for a moment and free yourself from distractions:
Take a deep breath in... exhale slowly... deep breath in... exhale slowly... deep breath in... exhale slowly... calm your mind and be present...
You ever wonder where the old saying, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions” actually came from?
My Google search uncovered, the expression was first published in its current form by Henry G. Bohn in the book, A Hand-book of Proverbs in 1855. Previous to Bohn, John Ray, in 1670, cited as a proverb "Hell is paved with good intentions." Even earlier than that, it's been attributed to Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (1091-1153), as "Hell is full of good intentions or desires." Just how it got to the road to Hell being paved this way, and not Hell itself, I don't know...
Neal Shusterman’s rewording gets directly to the heart of the issue, intention:
If you are honest with yourself, every word you speak has an intention behind and beneath it.
intention | noun a thing intended; an aim or plan.
An intention is idea that you plan (or intend) to carry out. If you mean something, it's an intention. Your goal, purpose, or aim is your intention. It's something you mean to do, whether you pull it off or not.
Think about it for a moment and ask yourself:
What’s my intention?
What do I want?
What’s my purpose?
What’s my intended goal?
What am I aiming for?
Think about these questions... spend as much time here as you need to be able to clearly articulate an answer...
How well have you pulled it off?
HHhhuummmm...
If you are not at the place you want to be in life, consider your intention(s) and where your focus has been.
How will you get there?
... what’s your plan... what energy are you bringing to make sure you stay on the right road? Set your intention! Focusing each conscious moment on achieving your goals will keep you moving in the right direction:
What will you commit to doing?
Here are 10 ways to get started.
10 Ways to Set Yourself Up For Success Each Day: State your intention and let the universe do the rest, (goodnet.org)
1. Create A Mantra: Think about what it is you really want and consider all the ways you're subconsciously blocking yourself from getting it. Now tune out all the negative noise. Create a positive mantra to repeat.
2. Share Your Intention With A Friend: Sharing what you want will keep you focused, encourage you to be clear on your ambitions, and hold you accountable.
3. Verbally Share Your Intention With Yourself: First thing in the morning, verbally share out loud what you desire. It could be the mantra you created or a few sentences about the kind of life you want and see yourself having... Say it with conviction.
4. Create A Ritual: Incorporate your intentions in your existing mourning routine. Make some time for stating your intention as part of your morning routine.
5. Meditate: Meditation can help your mental health in many ways from helping you sleep better to reducing stress. Why not use mindfulness as a method to rid yourself of anxiety and direct your energy toward your goals?
6. Practice Gratitude: Focus on what you have and what you're grateful for this moment. Practice gratitude for that thing you deeply desire. By repeatedly stating your intention and focusing on what you do have, you're actually working toward your goal.
7. Ask For What You Want, Then Let Go: Before the day begins, ask or state what you want. Think about it, revel in it, vision it, and then resist the urge to control every aspect of your day so that whatever you desire will happen in its own way. Trust the process.
8. Remind Yourself Daily: Be firm with yourself about not forgetting it. Repetition is your best friend. Every morning and throughout the day set your intentions and keep focused.
9. Consider How You'll Feel: A large part of setting an intention is getting super specific about what it is you want and how you'll feel once you get it. Tapping into those emotions only make your dreams feel more real and plausible.
10. Write It Down The Night Before: Before bed, write down your goals: spell out what they are, what your life will look like once you accomplish them, how you'll feel when you accomplish them, etc. Then read what you wrote and make sure it is extremely specific. In the mourning, set your mindset for that day.
How will you move forward focusing on intention?
Be intentional, encourage others to do the same and watch what happens.
You got this!
Coach Tavia
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Related Article:
10 Ways to Set Yourself Up for Success Each Day
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